Rehabilitation System Utah ASAP (Alcohol Safety Action Project) Analytic Study Number Six

• NCJ Number: 74528
• Author(s): R Byrd
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 40 pages
• Contract Number(s): DOT HS-159-2-249
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Admin
• Corporate Author: Byrd and Associates
• Sale Source: National Technical Information Service
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

In this evaluation of the Utah Alcohol Safety Action Project (ASAP), the most important characteristic differentiating the three groups of drinkers was previous DUI (driving under the influence) history.

Abstract

The Utah ASAP was operational for 3 years in the Wasatch Front area (July 1972 until July 1975). The study sought to analyze the groups of drinkers to determine a profile of repeat offenders and evaluate the efforts of ASAP in changing the drinking-driving behavior of individuals convicted of DUI. Investigators categorized the drinkers into three groups: social drinkers, problem drinkers, and problem drinkers not referred for treatment. A discriminant analysis of 309 individuals was made to determine whether systematic and consistent criteria were being used to differentiate among the individuals. A total of 15 variables were found to differentiate the three groups. The variables used were measures of prior alcohol history, employment and income status, marital status, religious preference, and data not collected. In general, problem drinkers seemed to have more difficulties in other areas such as employment, than did social drinkers. The sample was divided into two groups based upon examination of subsequent driving records for repeat offenders. Two basic differences were observed between the repeaters and nonrepeaters. First, effective treatment was not available for racial minorities in the Wasatch Front area. Secondly, those individuals for which data was difficult to collect were most likely to be the repeat DUI offenders, and this lack of information makes the development of a repeater profile difficult. The most important characteristic differentiating the three drinker groups was previous DUI history. Repeat offenders were likely to be of minority racial background, younger, and more likely to have a prior DUI history than were nonrepeaters. Eight tables, appendixes presenting a time series analysis model and data elements, and a bibliography of five entries are provided.