Citation

Winkler W, Jacobshagen W, Nickel WR. Blutalkohol 1990; 27(3): 154-174.

Vernacular Title

Zur Langzeitwirkung von Kursen fur wiederholt alkoholauffallige Kraftfahrer.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2372386

Abstract

Authors report on the analysis of long-term effectiveness of rehabilitation programs for multiple drinking-driving offenders. Even after an observation-period of 60 months since license renewal after treatment, program participants show a lower reconviction-rate than drivers who had been judged qualified to drive after medical and psychological assessment. Hence, there is no evidence for a mere deceleration of recidivism but on the contrary for long-term effectiveness. The analysis comprised the influence of individual variables such as age, previous DWI offenses, BAC in the event of DWI, previous criminal offenses, medical symptoms of alcohol-dependence and on the other hand systematic effects such as intensity of law enforcement by the police and regional drinking-habits. Furthermore the effects of three different treatment programs on the long-term reconviction rate are analysed and presented. The study discusses a number of critical arguments with respect to methodology and recommends consequences for future assessment and treatment. On the background of the problems of an extended observation period in the field--changes of variables of influence on drinking and drinking-driving behavior are possible, which cannot be compensated by treatment--the results are judged highly satisfying. They do not only justify continuing treatment after assessment but lead to the recommendation to extend treatment.