NCJ Number
141561
Journal
Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education Volume: 38 Issue: 2 Dated: (Winter 1993) Pages: 113-122
Date Published
1993
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Over 100 convicted drunk drivers who participated in the Impaired Driver Education and Awareness (IDEA) program in Ontario completed questionnaires designed to assess their level of knowledge concerning the effects of alcohol.
Abstract
While the majority of respondents could not identify whether alcohol is a depressant or a stimulant, the results of this questionnaire indicated that most convicted impaired drivers had some understanding of the detrimental effects of alcohol and how drinking impaired their driving ability. However, during program implementation, it became obvious that these drivers did not apply their knowledge to their personal situations; many had excuses for why they needed to drive on particular occasions, making their knowledge irrelevant. As a result of the questionnaire responses, IDEA administrators shifted the emphasis from a knowledge-based program to a behavior-change program, in which participants were encouraged to explore their values, self-concepts, and decisionmaking skills. The program helped participants to move onto appropriate community resources, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, and to develop a personal support system. 1 table and 3 references