Rising number of alcohol poisoning in children

Increase in alcohol poisoning among children and adolescents in Schleswig-Holstein

20/08/2012

More and more adolescents in Schleswig-Holstein are drinking according to the AOK NordWest „until unconsciousness.“ The number of alcohol into children and adolescents in Schleswig-Holstein has risen by ten percent last year, reports the health insurance company.

According to AOK NordWest, in 2011 in Schleswig-Holstein „A total of 260 children and adolescents aged 12 to 20 years hospitalized for alcohol poisoning.“ Apparently, alcohol consumption among adolescents has continued to increase, with so-called binge drinking taking on a particularly worrying dimension.

Alarming development in the alcohol abuse of adolescents
The increase in alcohol poisoning among adolescents in Schleswig-Holstein not only brings with them considerable health risks for those affected, but also financial burdens for the statutory health insurance companies. So that amounted to „Total costs for inpatient treatment and emergency transport at the health insurance fund in Schleswig-Holstein last year to around 350,000 euros“, reports the AOK NordWest. The „alarming development must urgently be stopped. Drinking a binge is not a sport or competition, but harms the health of young people massively“, emphasized the AOK CEO Martin Litsch.

Serious health consequences of alcohol consumption
According to the AOK NordWEst, the health risks to adolescents due to alcohol consumption are extremely far-reaching. Since the „Alcohol at a young age can only be broken down very slowly“ can threaten even with small amounts „severe damage and poisoning“, so the warning of the statutory health insurance. „The brain is most at risk because its developmental process is not yet fully completed in adolescents“, explained Martin Litsch. The increase in alcohol poisoning among adolescents by as much as ten percent is therefore particularly critical.

Ten percent of alcohol poisoning in children under 14 years
According to AOK NordWest was also in the evaluation of alcohol intoxications of children and adolescents „the gender-specific consumption behavior“ striking. The alcohol abuse is much more common in boys than girls, reports the health insurance. A total of 62 percent of adolescents who had to be hospitalized for alcohol abuse in 2011 were male insured. Another shocking aspect is the high proportion of particularly young patients. According to AOK data, ten percent of those affected were only 14 or younger. According to the hospital health insurance, many adolescents had more than two per mill alcohol in the blood at hospital admission, which can lead to life-threatening circulatory collapse and respiratory arrest.

Alcohol abuse of young people a societal challenge
The AOK chief Litsch said that the fight against binge drinking and other forms of alcohol abuse in children and adolescents not only affect the health insurance, but a challenge for society as a whole. The AOK NordWest will, among other things „to continue its efforts for active addiction prevention in schools.“ In collaboration with the State Office for Addiction Issues in Schleswig-Holstein (LSSH) and the addiction counseling centers on site, seminars are also to be held in which children, adolescents and their parents „informed about the risks of excessive alcohol consumption and other addictive dangers“ , the AOK NordWest reports. (Fp)

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Picture: Gerd Altmann