Evaluation Of The Degree Of Acute Alcohol Intoxication In Subjects Frequenting Snack Bars And Night Clubs In The City Of Douala

Background: Alcohol abuse is classified by the WHO as the third greatest risk of death or disability in the world [1] and is responsible for 9% of traffic accidents [2], due to the high level of motorization in the regions and the relatively easy availability of alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately, this harmful consequence does not only involve the consumer, but also his environment. Thus, in order to prevent the risks of accidents due to acute alcohol intoxication, we set ourselves the objective in this study to determine the frequency of acute alcohol intoxication in subjects frequenting snack bars and night
clubs. Methods: The equipment used was an ethylometer: the Alcometer CA3000, in which, the participants at the exit of the collection sites blew and the values of alcohol level were recorded from the expired air. The time of leaving the collection sites and the means of transport of the participants were also recorded. Results: 171 male and female motorcyclists, car drivers and pedestrians with an
average age of 29.56 ± 6.53 years participated in the study; the average BAC was 2.80 ±3.31g/L; with a prevalence of acute intoxication of 65.50%; the 25-30 age group had the highest level of intoxication (49.54% ≥ 0.5g/L) and young men had a level of intoxication 0.14 times higher than females; furthermore, 66.66% of motorists had a blood alcohol level ≥ 0.5g/L at the time of driving, most often between 10 pm and 1 am; as did 65.60% of pedestrians. Conclusion: Young men in the city of Douala, aged between 25 and 30 years, very often leave snack bars and/or nightclubs between 10 pm and 1 am in a state of acute alcoholic intoxication; Some of them, despite their state of inebriation take the wheel at the exit of these places, and may be likely to endanger their lives and those of their respective
entourage.