The magnitude of alcohol-associated incidents in relation to
medicolegal cases, including road traffic accidents and acts of
violence, has not been evaluated in Jordan. Between 1993 and
1995, 825 such cases received at Jordan University Hospital were
screened for the presence of alcohol. Blood alcohol was positive
in 9.1% of vehicle passengers, 9.6% of pedestrians, 12.4% of
cases involving violence, 13.6% of drivers, 65% of cases brought
by police and in 12.5% of other cases. Blood alcohol
concentrations (BAC) ranged from 10-350 mg/dL. BAC of more than
50mg/dL was found in 65% and 55% of driver and violence cases
respectively, and in 33% to 69% of the other categories. Alcohol
may have contributed to some of these incidents. In cases with
positive BAC, prior alcohol intake was frequently denied. There
was no association between cases with positive BAC and a
particular time, date or occasion.
Institution
Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Division, Faculty of Medicine,
University of Jordan, Amman. |