Presence of alcohol in adolescent homicide victims in Belo Horizonte 2005-2009

• Autor(a) principal: Drumond, Eliane de Freitas
• Data de Publicação: 2014
• Outros Autores: Hang-Costa, Talline Arêdes, Souza, Hercília Najara Ferreira de
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por; eng
• Título da fonte: Reme (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.ufmg.br/index.php/reme/article/view/50164
• topic: Homicidio; Adolescente; Trastornos Relacionados con el Alcohol; Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas; Homicídio; Adolescente; Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Álcool; Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas; Homicide; Adolescent; Related Disorders Alcohol; Alcohol Drinking

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of positive toxicology screen (TS+) conducted post mortem and characteristics of victims of homicidal violence, aged 10-19 years in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, in the period 2005-2009. We conducted a population-based descriptive study using data obtained from the Mortality Information System (SIM, in Portuguese). Among the 4,159 homicide victims of all ages, 1008 (24.2%) were aged 13-19 years. Victims in this age group were male (95.0%), single (98.8), blacks (81.2 %), with up to 8 years of education (68.8%), killed by firearms (87.5%) on the streets and highways (68.8%). TS was positive in 80 cases (7.9%). TS+ and blood alcohol concentration increased with age up to age 18. TS+ adolescent victims share similar characteristics with the remaining cases, however. Furthermore, the time elapsed between assault, death, and autopsy should also be taken into consideration. Given the increase in mortality from assault among Brazilian adolescents, the results of the study suggest that use of alcohol should be considered as a factor in public policies aimed at reducing violence and in the culture of peace.