Objective: To measure the prevalence of alcoholrelated problems among pediatric trainees.Methods: An alcoholism screening test was administered anonymously to participants at a mandatory substance abuse education and prevention program.Setting: A large urban pediatric residency training program. Subjects: One hundred fifteen pediatric residents attended the program during 3 consecutive years (1996)(1997)(1998). Eighty-five (74%) screening tests were returned and 81 (70%) were analyzed Main Outcome Measure: The 25-item Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST). Differential MAST cutpoints have been established to "suggest" or "indicate" a lifetime diagnosis of alcoholism.Results: Twelve residents (15%) had scores suggestive and 6 (7%) indicative of alcoholism. Twenty-eight (35%) admitted to having alcohol-associated amnesia (blackouts), 13 (16%) to "feeling bad" about their drinking, 9 (11%) to drinking before noon, 6 (7%) to getting into fights when drunk, and 2 (2%) to alcohol-related marital problems. However, only 1 (1%) had gone to anyone for help and none admitted to alcohol-related problems at work. Conclusions:These screening data suggest that alcohol abuse and related problems exist among pediatric trainees at troubling rates. While more than one third of the trainees had experienced a serious consequence from heavy drinking, only 1 had gone for help and problems were not apparent at work. Greater emphasis should be placed on alcohol prevention and early intervention programs as a routine part of pediatric training.

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