Medical costs of children of alcoholics--pay now or pay later.

Inpatient hospital utilization rates are compared for children of alcoholics (COAs) and other children. Data for the study are from hospital utilization statistics on 1.6 million insurance subscribers and their dependents. The findings indicate that COAs have higher rates of inpatient hospital admissions, spend more days in the hospital and incur greater hospital charges, and are more susceptible to specific illnesses than other children. COAs are also more susceptible than other children to specific illnesses such as mental illness, substance abuse, and injuries and poisonings. The findings demonstrate the need to train health care professionals about the relationship between parental alcoholism and childhood illnesses and the need for drug and alcohol prevention and intervention programs for children.