Citation

Nichols JL, Weinstein EB, Ellingstad VS, Struckman-Johnson DL. Proc. Int. Counc. Alcohol Drugs Traffic Safety Conf. 1981; 1981: 1298.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, The author(s) and the Council, Publisher International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

Eight years were spent evaluating various education and treatment programs for convicted drinking drivers in the United States. In addition, various diagnostic and treatment evaluation protocols were developed and several evaluation techniques and designs were used over the life of these programs, to which more than 250000 drinking drivers were referred. One of the major components of this evaluation effort was an eleven city experimental evaluation involving random assignment to treatment and no-treatment control conditions. A technique called survival analysis was the primary statistical approach to evaluating driving record data, although changes in life status (e.g. Health, job status, family stability, etc) were also measured by means of self-report protocols called a life activity inventory. Results of the evaluation effort indicated that the diagnostic techniques were valid, in that persons diagnosed as problem drinkers had double the re-arrest rate as persons diagnosed as social drinkers. Also, there were indications of effectiveness for education programs for social drinkers. Other than disulfiram treatment, there was little indication that any intervention had much effect on problem drinkers. The results of the life activities inventory suggested that all groups improved following the arrest and adjudication process. Little difference between treatment and no-treatment control groups were found, however. The effectiveness of treatment for various personality and demographic types was also examined and the results are discussed in view of recent data concerning license revocation and suspension. (Author/TRRL)