[At the crossover of adolescent and alcohol].

These last ten years, we observed an increased number of alcohol abuse among young adolescents in Swiss Hospitals. The Pediatric Department of Geneva has established a brief intervention program for adolescents brought to the emergency unit for acute alcohol intoxication (one night at the emergency unit followed by an ambulatory consultation within ten days). In these consultations, we evaluate their psychosocial situation and risk behaviors. If necessary these adolescents are referred to psychiatric or addiction units for special care. Adolescents were informed about the risks of alcohol abuse (secondary prevention) and the parents were counseled in their educational function. This program seems to answer to a real need since 88% of adolescents came to the followup evaluation. The parents also felt reassured by this interventional program.