Biomedical subjects

P W Haberman

Publications and source records attributed to P W Haberman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Driver fatalities and DUI offenders in New Jersey.

Comparisons of driving and demographic characteristics were made on 407 driver fatalities (DFs) and 407 motorists convicted of driving under the influence (DUI). Significantly more DUI offenders (DOs) than DFs were men and had previous DUIs, accidents, license suspensions, and weekend "index" events. DFs with a blood or brain alcohol concentration (BAC) of 100 or above mg/dL matched most closely with DOs on negative driving events, "index" event days, and demographics. Conversely, DFs with negative BACs differed significantly with DOs on virtually all characteristics. High-BAC DFs and DOs may well be drawn from the same subpopulation of deviant drivers, whereas DFs with negative BACs seem similar to licensed drivers in general.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed1991

The effects of combining sanctions and rehabilitation for driving under the influence: an evaluation of the New Jersey Alcohol Countermeasures Program.

In contrast to many other state Driving under the Influence (DUI) programs developed in the United States in the 1970s as alternatives to traditional sanctions, the New Jersey Alcohol Countermeasures Program combined sanctions with mandatory education/rehabilitation for offenders. Three components were evaluated: DUI education, "treatment," and Alcoholics Anonymous. For 2,734 first and repeat offenders participating in this program between 1979 and 1982, the program was effective in reducing DUI recidivism for program completers (66% while licensed and 51% while suspended) compared with noncompleters, but it was less effective in reducing subsequent moving violations while licensed (20% compared with noncompleters) and accidents while licensed (18% compared with noncompleters). Completers had higher rates of violations and accidents while suspended (9% compared with noncompleters). A small group of repeat offenders, missassigned to DUI education, had higher post conviction rates of negative driving events than those of comparable offenders assigned to "treatment" or Alcoholics Anonymous, indicating that for these offenders the latter interventions were more effective.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMed1990

Liver cirrhosis with and without mention of alcohol as cause of death.

Changes in the estimated proportion of liver cirrhosis deaths attributable to alcoholism in the United States from 1940 to 1980 are reviewed. The value of this proportion from 1940 in the original Jellinek Alcoholism Estimation Formula, through Formula modifications, to 1980 use are presented; the rationale for various changes in its value are discussed. Essex County, New Jersey, USA decedents in 1984, aged 25-years or older, whose underlying cause of death was specified alcoholic cirrhosis and those who died of cirrhosis without mention of alcohol are analyzed for differences in background and post-mortem characteristics. Some appreciable proportion of cirrhosis deaths without mention of alcohol is considered to be attributable to alcoholism. Background and post-mortem differences between persons whose underlying cause of death is certified as cirrhosis with and without mention of alcohol suggest some bases for the under-reporting of specified alcoholic cirrhosis mortality.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Premature mortality and chronic alcoholism: medical examiner cases, New Jersey.

To obtain estimates of premature mortality from nonviolent causes associated with chronic alcoholism, median ages at death were calculated for 994 Essex County, New Jersey Medical Examiner cases aged 25 or older classified as (1) 'nonabusers' or (2) alcoholics whose underlying cause of death was natural disease and (3) those who died of chronic alcoholism. Alcohol-associated mortality accounts for considerable years of potential life lost. Differences in its life-shortening effects according to sex, race, and natural disease versus chronic alcoholism as underlying and/or contributing cause(s) of death are analyzed. Criteria for classifying cases as alcoholics were: (1) autopsy findings attributable to alcoholism; (2) case information that the decedent was a 'known alcoholic', or ever had any health or other related problems because of drinking; or, (3) alcohol-specific disease or condition attributable to alcoholism as underlying or contributing cause of death. Nonabusers were cases not classified as alcoholics and/or other drug abusers. Nonabusers had the oldest median age at death, followed by alcoholics who died of (1) natural disease and (2) chronic alcoholism. Female nonabusers were older than their male counterparts, whereas female alcoholics whose underlying cause of death was natural diseases or chronic alcoholism were younger than male alcoholics with the same underlying cause. Median age at death was considerably lower for blacks than whites in all subgroups, with consistently greater race than sex differences. Evidence is presented which supports the accelerated development of alcoholism symptoms and associated illness among women. Aspects of increased mortality risk among alcoholics with natural disease and/or chronic alcoholism as underlying or contributing cause(s) of death are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Pharmacists recovering from alcohol and other drug addictions: an interview study.

An interview study of 86 pharmacists recovering from alcohol or other drug addiction was conducted to describe their experiences during development of and recovery from the addiction. Patterned after similar studies of other recovering health-care professionals, the study permitted comparisons with these other groups. Many felt inadequately prepared to recognize or deal with warning signs of problems of addiction in themselves or others. Forty-four had been arrested; 45 had experienced unemployment because of drinking or other drug use; 16 lost their licenses. Eighteen reported suicide attempts, 13 by drug overdose. Most reported experiences that are regarded as late-stage events, although 50 had never been subject to board action because of their drinking and other drug use. The use of chemicals interfered with the pharmacists' lives long before they were consciously worried about it. For 18, recovery occurred through the assistance of mutual-help groups alone; others had a variety of treatment experiences. Fewer pharmacists reported addiction to only alcohol than did other health-care professionals. Very few reported addiction to parenteral drugs, a significant deviation from the other groups studied. Pharmacists differed from other groups also in that they were extra scrupulous in reporting acts of dishonesty associated with their addiction, which may make their behavior appear worse than that of the other groups when the opposite may be the case. The profession must begin to answer questions about how recovering pharmacists should be treated, and what the role of professional groups in their recovery is.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Alcohol and alcoholism in traffic and other accidental deaths.

To assess the role of alcohol and alcoholism in motor vehicle and other accidental deaths, New Jersey State Medical Examiner cases from Essex County aged 16 or older during a 4-year period, October 1981 to September 1985, were analyzed. Cases were classified as alcoholics according to the following criteria: (1) autopsy findings of liver change or pancreatitis due to alcoholism or (2) any case record report of drinking problems. There were 467 age-eligible cases whose certified manner of death was an accident for which the decedent may have had some responsibility. The study sample of 300 cases with blood or brain alcohol levels (BALs) obtained within 6 h after injury, including 96 motor vehicle drivers, 78 pedestrians in motor vehicle accidents, 38 fire victims, and 33 fall victims. In the study sample, 23% were classified as alcoholics, 47% had positive BALs, and 36% had levels of 0.10% or more. Alcoholics much more often than nonalcoholics had positive BALs and levels of 0.20% or more. Accidental nontraffic deaths were significantly more often associated with both alcohol use and alcoholism than were traffic deaths.

Accidents↗

PubMed1987

Alcohol use and alcoholism among motor vehicle driver fatalities.

In an ongoing project utilizing New Jersey State Medical Examiner data, all 218 motor vehicle driver fatalities in Essex County from 1979 through 1985 were classified as alcoholics with (1) positive brain/blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) or (2) negative BACs, or as non-alcoholics with (3) positive BACs or (4) negative BACs. Thirty-seven (17%) were classified as alcoholics, almost always based on autopsy findings of liver damage due to alcoholism. One-half of 173 cases with usable tests-64% of alcoholics and 47% of nonalcoholics-had positive BACs. Previous reports on the relative involvement of drinking and sober alcoholics in traffic accidents have been inconclusive.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed1986

Trends in alcoholism and narcotics abuse from medical examiner data.

To determine trends in alcoholism and narcotics abuse, New Jersey State Medical Examiner cases from Essex County of those age 12 or older during three consecutive 12-month periods from October 1981 to September 1984 (years 1, 2 and 3) were analyzed. Cases were classified as alcoholics or narcotics abusers according to the following criteria: any case record report of drinking problems or narcotics abuse, alcoholism or narcotics abuse indicated in the manner or cause of death or autopsy findings of liver change or pancreatitis due to alcoholism, or toxicology findings of narcotics (unless medically prescribed). The age-eligible cases decreased from 710 in year 1 to 691 in year 2 and 643 in year 3. Decedents classified as alcoholics rose from 18% in year 1 to 25% in years 2 and 3. The proportions classified as narcotic abusers and those with both conditions were relatively constant, averaging 7 and 5%, respectively, over the 3 years. Substance abuse itself was the manner of death for alcoholics and most of those with both conditions; 38% of the narcotics abusers were homicide victims. There were no appreciable demographic changes among substance abusers during this period.

Accidents↗

PubMed1983

Problem-drinking patterns among American merchant seamen.

Despite an unfortunately small sample size, a readily understandable questionnaire was administered with relative ease to available American merchant seamen who met the necessary study criteria of sobriety and treatment. The findings suggest that problem-drinking patterns of active merchant seamen seem to be induced by their work environment rather than being indicative of a predisposition to periodic or episodic alcoholism. Possible reasons why relatively few seamen seek or remain in treatment programs designed to help them with their drinking problems are presented.

Adult↗

PubMed1979

Relationship of microbial indicators to health effects at marine bathing beaches.

Findings are described from the second year of an epidemiological-microbiological study conducted at New York City beaches as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program to develop health effects-recreational water quality criteria. Symptomatology rates among swimmers (defined as immersion of the head in the water) relative to nonswimming but beach-going controls at a "barely acceptable" (BA) beach and a "relatively unpolluted" (RU) beach were examined. Data were collected by contacting family groups at the beach on weekends, obtaining information on bathing activity, and then questioning them by phone some 8--10 days later. In addition measurements were made for a number of potential water quality indicators. It was observed that the symptom rates, categorized as gastrointestinal (GI), respiratory, "other", and "disabling" (stayed home, stayed in bed, consulted a physician), were higher among swimmers than nonswimmers. As in the pretest conducted the previous year, the rate of GI symptoms was significantly higher among swimmers relative to nonswimmers at the BA but not the RU beach. Children, Hispanic Americans, and the low-middle socioeconomic groups were identified as the most susceptible portions of the population.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1974