Hospital cases of alcohol abuse

There were 63 cases of alcohol abuse admitted to Mater Dei Hospital in the first four months of this year, Health Minister Joseph Cassar told Parliament in reply to a question by Labour MP Noel Farrugia.

There were three categories of such cases.

Ten cases had fallen in the first category, with alcohol dependence syndromes or a state of withdrawal because the alcohol dependent would have stopped or reduced his alcohol intake, or those who abused of alcohol.

The second category, in which there had been 44 cases, featured intoxication caused by alcohol but not in an alcohol dependent.

There had been nine cases in the third category, which featured liver ailments attributed to alcohol intake.

Dr Cassar pointed out that the figures did not include cases that were seen in the Emergency Department but not admitted to any ward.