Journal of Osteopathic Medicine November 2025: Emergency department wait times in concordance with blood alcohol content and subsequent alcohol use disorder

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Access expires on Nov 05, 2028

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Credit Offered

1 AOA Category 1-B Credit

OVERVIEW
In the United States, nearly 80% of the adult population reported lifetime alcohol use, with 50% of those reporting alcohol consumption within the past 30 days in 2019. The expense of excess alcohol intake was estimated to have an annual associated healthcare cost of $28 billion, and there was greater than $221 billion in additional costs due to the detrimental effects of excess alcohol intake on productivity and societal setbacks over the last year. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) provides a major barrier for patients seeking medical treatment because AUD is consistently regarded as
one of the most stigmatized disorders globally. Provider-based discrimination toward patients with AUD may lead to providing a lower quality of care.

Our objective was to assess whether patients with a history of AUD and/or positive blood alcohol content (BAC+) affect emergency department (ED) wait times. We hypothesized that patients presenting to the ED with AUD+/BAC+ would have longer wait times. Secondarily, we investigated the impacts of sociodemographics within these analyses.

Authors: Sean Hayes; Kaylee Mach; Jennifer Briggs, DO; and Micah Hartwell, PhD

OBJECTIVES

Review the epidemiology of alcohol use and alcohol use disorder in the United States
Outline whether patients with a history of AUD and/or positive blood alcohol content (BAC+) affect emergency department (ED) wait times
Discuss the reasons hypothesized as to why patients who are BAC+ in the ED may have shorter wait times

Expiration Date: November 5, 2028

The AOA designates this activity for a maximum of 1.0 AOA Category 1-B Credit. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.