NCJ Number
138068
Date Published
1990
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This chapter reviews and discusses selected research related to the prevalence, correlates, and consequences of problem drinking and alcoholism among DWI offenders.
Abstract
In the first section of the chapter, several of the salient screening measures, categorical measurement approaches, and biochemical indexes are reviewed and evaluated with respect to their different means and sensitivity in the detection of alcoholism. The instruments include the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test, the Mortimer-Filkins Test, and the DSM-III-R. The authors conclude that screening and diagnostic tests have been developed to provide reliable detection of alcohol problems in drinking drivers. In the second section, a review and evaluation of selective studies of antecedents and correlates of drunk driving behavior that are considered particularly relevant to the drinking driver with serious alcohol problems are provided. Specifically, research pertaining to personality characteristics and mental health indexes among drunk drivers is considered. The authors indicate that research related to the influences of criminal and deviant behaviors, and depressed affect among drunk drivers have shown an association with serious alcohol problems. In the third section, public policy questions that need to be addressed with additional research on the drinking driver with serious alcohol problems are identified. The authors advise that a recognition of the number of problem drinkers and alcoholics in drunk-driver samples, as well as their associated personality characteristics and psychiatric conditions, may facilitate more heterogeneous etiological theories of drinking-and-driving behavior and may offer assistance in choosing from among the current diversified intervention strategies available. 81 references