Alcohol intoxication among the young

In the Netherlands, an increase of 50 cases of acute alcohol intoxication with coma among the young in 2000 to 240 cases in 2007 stirred attention to this problem. A first specialized treatment unit to help these youngsters stimulated the start of four more of these experimental units in other hospitals. Three authors review the problem. Some part of the rising number of cases could be artificial, and as such the causes of the rise are not entirely clear. Yet sufficiently is known to intensify prevention. Clear parental prohibition to use alcohol was demonstrated to be successful, especially among young children who had not yet started drinking alcohol. Strict governmental laws and active local government preventive policies should support parents.