NCJ Number
217254
Journal
Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education Volume: 50 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2006 Pages: 66-79
Date Published
September 2006
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examined the personal characteristics of driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenders and assessed the extent of their drinking problem.
Abstract
Results revealed that DWI offenders were more likely to be older, to be male, to have begun drinking at a younger age, and to have been arrested for their first alcohol-related offense at a younger age. The majority of DWI offenders exhibited potential for evident alcohol problems. Only 23 percent of participants were found to have no drinking problem. The findings support previous evidence of an upsurge in offender problem drinking. The results suggest the need for alcohol-related interventions with young people who demonstrate an increased risk of future alcohol-related problems. The authors suggest using the Numerical Drinking Profile (NDP) to assess high-risk alcohol abusers in need of intervention and follow-up. Participants were 199 DWI offenders enrolled in a court mandated DWI education program at the Center for Alcohol and Drug Education Studies at Texas A&M University from February 2001 through May 2003. Surveys were completed prior to beginning the DWI education course as well as following completion of the course. Surveys focused on knowledge of alcohol effects, knowledge of alcohol-related laws and sanctions, and the extent of participants’ drinking problem. The NDP was used to assess problem drinking. Data coding and analysis, which involved basic statistical analyses as well as multivariate regression analyses, were completed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Limitations of the study are discussed and include the sole use of self-report data and the exclusion of Spanish speaking DWI offenders. Tables, references