Alcohol-related Casualties and Crime in Mexico: Description of Reporting Systems and Results for a Study (From Drinking and Casualties: Accidents, Poisonings and Violence in an International Perspective, P 259-273, 1989, Norman Giesbrecht et al., eds. -- See NCJ-125300)

• NCJ Number: 125301
• Author(s): H Rosovsky
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: Tavistock Publications Ltd
• Publication Type: Report (Technical)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This analysis of the relationship between alcohol and crimes and accidents in Mexico uses data from an ongoing study initiated by the Mexican Institute of Psychiatry in 1984.

Abstract

The research focused on analyzing the methods used to determine alcohol's role in an event, developing and testing a methodology for improved evaluation of the role of alcohol consumption in accidents and crimes, and examining information on the demographic characteristics of the involved population. The study used data from samples of individuals brought to a police headquarters and an emergency hospital. Findings showed that the current method for recording alcohol-related accidents and crimes has significant limitations and that underreporting occurs as a result. In addition, the people coming to the attention of the police or medical authorities tended to have low incomes and education, while those in higher socioeconomic groups can more easily avoid being detained. Results also indicated that the low-income population, like the general population, consumes alcohol infrequently but excessively. Further research is planned. Figures, tables, and 12 references.