DUI Arrestees versus Other Outpatients in Chemical Dependency Treatment: Initial Status and One-Year Outcome

Abstract

This study compared 538 male outpatients who were court-referred into chemical dependency treatment and had a Driving-Under-the-Influence (DUI) offense to 790 nonoffender male outpatients. DUI arrestees tended to be younger, more likely to complete treatment, have greater legal involvement, and have a more episodic and social chemical use pattern. DUI offenders were similar to other outpatients in demonstrating significant symptoms of dependency. One-year follow-up results on 199 DUI and 368 non-DUI offenders who had successfully completed treatment and been contacted revealed that the two groups were comparable in areas of reported abstinence, legal involvement, vocational functioning, and medical care utilization; AA attendance was significantly higher among DUI arrestees. The results indicate that outpatient substance abuse treatment can be an appropriate intervention for at least a portion of the DUI offender population, and may be a viable and vital component in an integrated policy on drunken driving.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Ben-Arie O. , George, G. C. W. , & Hirschowitz, J. (1983). Compulsory treatment of 50 alcoholic drunken drivers: A follow-up study. South African Medical Journal, 63, 241-243.

Campbell, D. T. , & Stanley, J. C. (1963). Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for research and teaching. In N. L. Gage (Ed.), Handbook of research on teaching. Chicago: Rand McNally.

Donovan, D. M. Marlatt, G. A. , & Salzberg, P. M. (1983). Drinking behavior, personality factors and high-risk driving: A review and theoretical formulation. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 44, 395-428.

Donovan, D. M. , Umlauf, R. L. , & Salzberg, P. M. (1990). Bad drivers: Identification of a target group of alcohol-related prevention and early intervention. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 51 136-141/

Dunham, R. G. , & Mauss, A. L. (1982). Reluctant referrals: The effectiveness of legal coercion on outpatient treatment for problem drinkers. Journal of Drug Issues, 12, 4-20.

Fagan, R. W. , & Fagan, N. M. (1982). Impact of legal coercion in the treatment of alcoholism. Journal of Drug Issues, 12, 103-114.

Foon, A. E. (1988). The effectiveness of drinking-driving treatment programs: A critical review. The International Journal of the Addicictions, 23, 15 1-174.

Harrison, P. A. , & Hoffmann, N. G. (1989). CATOR Report. Adult Inpatient Completers One Year Later. St. Paul, MN: Ramsey Clinic.

Hoffmann, N. G. , Belille, C. A. , & Sladkey, L. M. (1981). Impact of chemical dependency treatment as determined by a computerized patient registry. In Fifth Annual Symposium on Computer Applications in Medical Care (pp. 661-664). New York: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Society Press.

10.

Hoffmann, N. G. , & Harrison, P. A. (1988). CATOR Report. Treatment Outcome: Adult Inpatients Two Years Later. St. Paul, MN: Ramsey Clinic.

11.

Hoffmann, N. G. , Harrison, P. A. , & Belille, C. A. (1984). Multi-dimensional impact of treatment for substance abuse. In J. H. Lowinson & B. Stimmel (Eds.). Conceptual issues in alcoholism and substance abuse (pp. 83-94). New York: Haworth Press.

12.

Hoffmann, N. G. , Ninonuevo, F. Mozey, J. & Luxenberg, M. G. (1987). Comparison of court-referred DWI arrestees with other outpatients in substance abuse treatment. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 48, 591-594.

13.

Laundergan, J. C. (1981) Easy Does It. Center City, MN: Hazeldon Foundation.

14.

Lucker, G. W. , Kruzich, D. J. , Holt, M. T. , & Gold, J. D. (1991). The prevalence of antisocial behavior among U.S. Army DWI offenders. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 52, 318-320.

15.

McCarty, D. & Argeriou, M. (1986). Rearrest following residential treatment for repeat offender drunken drivers. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 49, 1-6.

16.

McGuire, F. L. (1980). "Heavy" and "light" drinking-drivers as separate target groups for treatment. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 5, 101-107.

17.

O'Callaghan, J. (1990). Alcohol, driving and public policy: The effectiveness of mandated AA attendance for DWI offenders. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 7, 87-100.

18.

Pickens, R. W. , Hatsukami, D. K. , Spicer, J. W. , & Svikis, D. S. (1985). Relapse by alcohol abusers. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 9, 244-247.

19.

Steer, R. A. , Fine, E. W. , & Scoles, P. E. (1979). Classification of men arrested for driving while intoxicated and treatment implications: A cluster-analytic study. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 40, 222-229.

20.

Vingilis, E. (1983). Drinking drivers and alcoholics: Are they from the same population? In R. G., Smart , F. B., Glaser , Y., Israel , H., Kalnat , R. E., Popham , & W. Schmidt (Eds.). Research advances in alcohol and drug problems, vol. 7 (pp. 229-342). New York: Plenum Press.