The analysis reveals that more than 2 million head injuries occur each year in the United States and that 500,000 of these injuries requiring hospitalization. Alcohol places individuals at greater risk for head injury than any other known factor, including age and occupation. Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence can precipitate behavior resulting in head trauma and that chronic alcohol abuse potentiates the mechanical and neurochemical processes involved in traumatic brain injury, often resulting in a subsequent dual diagnosis of alcohol dependence and an organic mental disorder such as amnesic state, mood disorder, personality disorder, or delusional disorder. The magnitude of clinical morbidity is considerable and has been documented in a broad range of epidemiological studies on the topic. With the increased education of health care professionals and with the education and psychiatric treatment of persons at risk for this condition, the morbidity may be reduced. Figures and 121 references (Author abstract modified)