In Great Britain, admission rates for mental and behavioral disorders due to substance use remain relatively stable, however, there is a clear increase in alcohol-related admissions among women under age 25 years and children, according to an article in the January 15th issue of the British Medical Journal. The trend seems to be consistent with other findings of an increase in binge alcohol drinking in these populations.

In 2002-2003, there were 18,863 hospital admissions in the U.K. for mental and behavioral disorders due to alcohol, 7,380 admissions due to controlled drugs, and 3,366 admissions for accidental self-poisoning with alcohol or controlled drugs.

Although admission rates for mental and behavioral disorders caused by alcohol have remained relatively stable, admissions among young women (under 25 years) and children increased slightly. This is consistent with other findings of an increase in binge drinking in this group, said the authors.

Admission rates for mental and behavioral disorders due to use of controlled drugs decreased in people aged 15-24 years but increased in those aged 25-44 years, consistent with reports of an aging group of problem drug users.

There was wide variation in admission rates between primary care trusts, which could be due to a range of factors unrelated to levels of harm in the population, said the authors.

However, the differences in national trends between age groups may reflect real differences in the level of harm in the population, they concluded.