Driving Under The Influence Arrest Research Articles

Drinking and driving among Whites and Hispanics on and off the US/Mexico border in California

Objective To examine self-reported rates of driving under the influence (DUI) with and without arrest among border and non-border residents in California. Methods Data were obtained from 1,209 adults 18 to 39 years of age resident in four counties in California: Imperial on the U.S./Mexico border; and Kern, Tulare, and Madera in California’s Central Valley. Households were selected using a list assisted sample. Data were collected on the phone or online and analyzed with a heteroskedastic ordinal generalized linear model. Results Driving after drinking (11.1% vs. 6.5%; q = 0.04) and the lifetime DUI arrest rates were higher for men than women (10.7% vs. 4%; q = 0.001). In multivariable analysis driving after drinking and DUI arrests were not higher on the border, not higher among Hispanics than Whites, and among Hispanics, the rates were not higher among those located on the border. Income was positively associated with drinking and driving. Impulsivity was positively and significantly associated with both drinking and driving and lifetime DUI arrest. Conclusion The null results suggest that DUI related risk behaviors may not be higher on the border than in other areas of California. There may be health related risk behaviors of higher prevalence in the border population than in other areas, but DUI related behavior may not be one of them.

Criminal Deterrence: Evidence from an Individual‐Level Analysis of 24/7 Sobriety

AbstractDecisionmakers continue to search for new ways to deter criminal behavior that do not rely on increasing the severity of punishment. This paper evaluates South Dakota's 24/7 Sobriety Program—a novel, large‐scale intervention requiring those arrested for or convicted of an alcohol‐related offense to abstain from alcohol and submit to alcohol tests multiple times daily. Those testing positive or missing a test receive a swift,certain, and moderate sanction; typically, a night or two in jail. To estimate the causal effect of the 24/7 program on the probability of rearrest or probation revocation for those arrested for a second or third driving under the influence (DUI) offense, we instrument an individual's 24/7 participation with program availability in the county of arrest. We estimate that the individual‐level probability of rearrest or probation revocation is 13.7 percentage points (49 percent; p = 0.002) lower for 24/7 participants than non‐participants 12 months after their DUI arrest. We detect substantive decreases at 24 and 36 months, but the precision of those estimates depends on model specification. These findings provide empricial support for applying “swift‐certain‐fair” sanctions to deter noncompliance in community supervision settings. This paper also provides policymakers with evidence for a new approach to reduce criminal activity among those whose alcohol use leads them to repeatedly threaten public health and safety.

Perceptions of plea bargains for driving under the influence (DUI) cases involving alcohol and marijuana

ABSTRACT Two experiments investigated plea bargains in a mock driving under the influence (DUI) case. In each experiment, participants (78 [47 females and 31 males] in Experiment 1 and 92 [48 females and 44 males] in Experiment 2) read vignettes describing a plea bargain in a DUI case. Both experiments employed a within-subjects design: Type of Substance (alcohol vs. marijuana), Type of Plea Bargain Agreement (minimum time of suspended license vs. median time of suspended license), and Number of DUI Arrests (1 DUI arrest vs. 2 DUI arrests in a 10-year period [Experiment 1] or 1-year period [Experiment 2]). The results showed less support for plea bargains when the DUI case: (a) involved alcohol, (b) involved a minimum time of suspended license, and (c) involved two DUI arrests in a 1-year period. The results are discussed in terms of procedural justice theory and the impact of the general public’s perceptions of plea bargains as a legal tool.

Gender-Specific Predictors of Recidivism Among DUI Offenders

Women are less likely than men to be arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or another drug, yet their proportion of DUI offenders is growing. Understanding how DUI recidivism risk varies for men and women is of practical utility for DUI assessment and intervention programs. The goals of the current study are to determine if there are different sets of predictors for men and women and whether gender-specific DUI recidivism risk scales perform better than a single recidivism scale for both men and women. We rely on statistically driven techniques to develop gender-specific and total sample recidivism risk scales. We then test the ability of the scales to predict recidivism within 12 months among a large sample (N = 10,827, 22.3% female) of DUI offenders court mandated to a DUI intervention in Mississippi. Predictors of recidivism were drawn from measures of criminal history, substance use disorders, driving behaviors, and accidents. Gender-specific models yielded different sets of recidivism risk factors for men and women, with minimal overlap between the two. Male risk factors were criminal history and heavy alcohol consumption. For women, evidence of a substance use disorder was a unique predictor. Having a prior DUI arrest, driving behaviors, and a physical health consequence of alcohol or drug use (i.e., weight loss) were shared predictors for both sexes. Findings suggest that within broad categories of risk factors, the predictive validity of specific assessment items may vary by sex. Our methods represent progression toward more efficient prediction of DUI recidivists.

Race/Ethnicity, Community of Residence, and DUI Arrest After Beginning Treatment for an Alcohol Use Disorder.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether racial/ethnic disparities in post-treatment arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) exist among clients receiving outpatient treatment for an alcohol use disorder (AUD) and to assess whether community characteristics were associated with this outcome. The sample included adults with an AUD entering publicly funded outpatient treatment in Washington State in 2012. Treatment data were linked with criminal justice and US Census data. Multilevel time-to-event analysis was employed to answer the research questions. Key independent variables included client race/ethnicity, community-level economic disadvantage, and racial/ethnic composition of the community. Latino clients and clients residing in communities with a higher proportion of Black residents had higher hazards of a DUI arrest post-treatment admission. Future research should examine whether disparities in DUI arrests are related to differences in treatment effectiveness or other factors (e.g., inequities in law enforcement) so that these disparities can be addressed.

A community driving under the influence (DUI) study of declining arrests

Objective: Recent news reports in 2016 indicated that across Miami–Dade County, Florida, driving under the influence (DUI) arrests have decreased substantially. The objective of this research was to determine the reasons for the decline in DUI arrests from 2009 to 2016. Are there fewer impaired drivers on the roads? Can DUI enforcement and prosecution be improved?Methods: The following methods were used in this study: (1) Analysis of existing DUI arrest and crash data; (2) conducting and analysis of a telephone survey of reported knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors concerning impaired driving; (3) conducting and analysis of roadside surveys on the roads on weekend nights in Miami–Dade County; (4) information from focus group discussions with police and prosecutors in Miami–Dade County; and (5) a comprehensive review of the best DUI prevention practices and enforcement strategies used across the country.Results: DUI arrests decreased 64% in Miami–Dade County between 2009 and 2016. This was a significantly larger decrease than has occurred in the State of Florida as a whole (34%) and in the United States (29%) over the same time period. The decline was not due to any decline in DUI behavior in the county.Conclusions: Based upon the data and information gathered in this project, the following actions were recommended for Miami–Dade County: (1) County police chiefs need to find ways to overcome law enforcement apathy toward DUI enforcement and persuade their traffic enforcement officers to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to identifying and making impaired driving stops. (2) County police agencies should join forces to conduct more sobriety checkpoints. Checkpoints are safer for both the police and the drivers going through them and serve as a general deterrent to impaired driving. (3) An interagency DUI task force or team of 5 to 7 officers should be established within the county. These officers would be solely dedicated to DUI enforcement and paid for by each individual agency or under a grant from the state or federal government.

A retrospective, population-based cohort study of driving under the influence, Alzheimer's disease diagnosis, and survival.

A retrospective, population-based cohort study using state health and law enforcement data was performed. The study cross-referenced 141,281 South Carolina Alzheimer's Disease Registry cases with state law enforcement data. Of the 2,882 registry cases (1.4%) found to have a history of at least one DUI arrest, cases were predominantly White (58.7%) and male (77.4%). Results showed a correlation coefficient of 0.7 (p < 0.0001) between the age of first DUI arrest and the age of AD diagnosis. A dose-response relationship between the number of DUIs and age of AD onset was found to exist, where those with a history of DUI arrest were diagnosed an average of 9.1 years earlier, with a further 1.8 years earlier age at diagnosis in those with two or more arrests for DUI. A history of DUI arrest was also found to be negatively associated with survival after diagnosis, with a 10% decreased life expectancy in those with a DUI arrest history. Driving under the influence, a potential indicator of alcohol addiction, is associated with an earlier onset of AD registry diagnosis and shortened survival after diagnosis. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence suggesting that some cases of AD are alcohol related and, possibly, postponable or preventable.

Drinking and driving and perceptions of arrest risk among California drivers: Relationships with DUI arrests in their city of residence

ABSTRACTObjective: Addressing drinking and driving remains a challenge in the United States. The present study aims to provide feedback on driving under the influence (DUI) in California by assessing whether drinking and driving behavior is associated with the DUI arrest rates in the city in which the driver lives; whether this is due to perceptions that one can get arrested for this behavior; and whether this differed by those drivers who would be most affected by deterrence efforts (those most likely to drink outside the home).Methods: This study consisted of a 2012 roadside survey of 1,147 weekend nighttime drivers in California. City DUI arrest rates for 2009–2011 were used as an indicator of local enforcement efforts. Population average logistic modeling was conducted modeling the odds of perceived high arrest likelihood for DUI and drinking and driving behavior within the past year.Results: As the DUI arrest rates for the city in which the driver lives increased, perceived high risk of DUI arrest increased. There was no significant relationship between either city DUI arrest rates or perceived high risk of DUI arrest with self-reported drinking and driving behavior in the full sample. Among a much smaller sample of those most likely to drink outside the home, self-reported drinking and driving behavior was negatively associated with DUI arrests rates in their city of residence but this was not mediated by perceptions.Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that perceptions are correlated with one aspect of DUI efforts in one's community. Those who were more likely to drink outside the home could be behaviorally influenced by these efforts.

Bringing Alcohol Treatment to Driving Under the Influence Programs: Perceptions from First-Time Offenders

ABSTRACTAlcohol use disorders (AUDs) are common among persons with a first-time driving under the influence (DUI) arrest. Individuals with a DUI arrest may attend a DUI alcohol education program for license reinstatement. The authors evaluated the acceptability of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for AUDs adapted for DUI programs. Participants (N = 35) were enrolled in one of two DUI programs in Los Angeles and were an average of age 34.5 (SD = 11.9) years, 66% male, 37.1% African American, 34.2% Hispanic/Latino(a), and 20% non-Hispanic White. The authors analyzed data from 10 focus groups and 35 self-report surveys that evaluated the nine-session CBT group protocol. Overall, participants stated that the CBT philosophy was acceptable and helpful in thinking about how to prevent future DUIs. They also found the coping skills in the sessions relevant to other life events and decisions. Participants valued the personal disclosure and interactive role-play and group exercises embedded within each session, stating that these exercises helped with group cohesion and self-disclosure. Data from satisfaction surveys showed that participants reported high satisfaction ratings on the overall session, session content, and session facilitator. Future studies are needed to evaluate whether evidence-based treatment within DUI programs may increase access to evidence-based care among individuals who are at risk and who may not otherwise seek treatment for their AUDs.

The use of psychoactive prescription drugs among DUI suspects

BackgroundThe study seeks to increase understanding of the use of psychoactive prescription drugs among persons suspected of driving under the influence (DUI). We studied whether the use of prescribed psychoactive medication was associated with DUI, and examined the difference in the use of prescription drugs between DUI recidivists and those arrested only once. MethodsIn this register-based study, persons suspected of DUI (n=29470) were drawn from the Register of DUI suspects, and an age- and gender-matched reference population (n=30043) was drawn from the Finnish general population. Data on prescription drug use was obtained by linkage to the National Prescription Register. The associations of DUI arrest and use of psychoactive prescription drugs in different DUI groups (findings for alcohol only, prescription drugs, prescription drugs and alcohol, illicit drugs) were estimated by using mixed-effect logistic regression. ResultsThe use of psychoactive prescription drugs and DUI appeared to be strongly associated, with DUI suspects significantly more likely to use psychoactive prescription drugs compared to the reference population. Gender differences existed, with the use of benzodiazepines being more common among female DUI suspects. Moreover, DUI recidivists were more likely to use psychoactive prescription drugs compared to those arrested only once. ConclusionsIn addition to alcohol and/or illicit drug use, a significant proportion of DUI suspects were using psychoactive prescription drugs. When prescribing psychoactive medication, especially benzodiazepines, physicians are challenged to screen for possible substance use problems and also to monitor for patients’ alcohol or illicit drug use while being medicated.

Relationship of impaired-driving enforcement intensity to drinking and driving on the roads.

It is principally the area of enforcement that offers the greatest opportunity for reducing alcohol-impaired driving in the near future. How much of a reduction in drinking and driving would be achieved by how much improvement in enforcement intensity? We developed logistic regression models to explore how enforcement intensity (6 different measures) related to the prevalence of weekend nighttime drivers in the 2007 National Roadside Survey who had been drinking (blood alcohol concentration [BAC]≥0.00g/dl), who had BACs≥0.05g/dl, and who were driving with an illegal BAC≥0.08g/dl. Drivers on the roads in our sample of 30 communities who were exposed to fewer than 228 traffic stops per 10,000 population aged 18 and older had 2.4 times the odds of being BAC positive, 3.6 times the odds of driving with a BAC≥0.05, and 3.8 times the odds of driving with a BAC≥0.08 compared to those drivers on the roads in communities with more than 1,275 traffic stops per 10,000 population. Drivers on the roads in communities with fewer than 3.7 driving under the influence (DUI) arrests per 10,000 population had 2.7 times the odds of BAC-positive drivers on the roads compared to communities with the highest intensity of DUI arrest activity (>38 DUI arrests per 10,000 population). The number of traffic stops and DUI arrests per capita were significantly associated with the odds of drinking and driving on the roads in these communities. This might reflect traffic enforcement visibility. The findings in this study may help law enforcement agencies around the country adjust their traffic enforcement intensity to reduce impaired driving in their community.

Effects of enforcement intensity on alcohol impaired driving crashes

BackgroundResearch measuring levels of enforcement has investigated whether increases in police activities (e.g., checkpoints, driving-while-intoxicated [DWI] special patrols) above some baseline level are associated with reduced crashes and fatalities. Little research, however, has attempted to quantitatively measure enforcement efforts and relate different enforcement levels to specific levels of the prevalence of alcohol-impaired driving. ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate the effects of law-enforcement intensity in a sample of communities on the rate of crashes involving a drinking driver. We analyzed the influence of different enforcement strategies and measures: (1) specific deterrence – annual number of driving-under-the-influence (DUI) arrests per capita; (2) general deterrence – frequency of sobriety checkpoint operations; (3) highly visible traffic enforcement – annual number of traffic stops per capita; (4) enforcement presence – number of sworn officers per capita; and (5) overall traffic enforcement – the number of other traffic enforcement citations per capita (i.e., seat belt citations, speeding tickets, and other moving violations and warnings) in each community. MethodsWe took advantage of nationwide data on the local prevalence of impaired driving from the 2007 National Roadside Survey (NRS), measures of DUI enforcement activity provided by the police departments that participated in the 2007 NRS, and crashes from the General Estimates System (GES) in the same locations as the 2007 NRS. We analyzed the relationship between the intensity of enforcement and the prevalence of impaired driving crashes in 22–26 communities with complete data. Log-linear regressions were used throughout the study. ResultsA higher number of DUI arrests per 10,000 driving-aged population was associated with a lower ratio of drinking-driver crashes to non-drinking-driver crashes (p=0.035) when controlling for the percentage of legally intoxicated drivers on the roads surveyed in the community from the 2007 NRS. Results indicate that a 10% increase in the DUI arrest rate is associated with a 1% reduction in the drinking driver crash rate. Similar results were obtained for an increase in the number of sworn officers per 10,000 driving-age population. DiscussionWhile a higher DUI arrest rate was associated with a lower drinking-driver crash rate, sobriety checkpoints did not have a significant relationship to drinking-driver crashes. This appeared to be due to the fact that only 3% of the on-the-road drivers were exposed to frequent sobriety checkpoints (only 1 of 36 police agencies where we received enforcement data conducted checkpoints weekly). This low-use strategy is symptomatic of the general decline in checkpoint use in the U.S. since the 1980s and 1990s when the greatest declines in alcohol-impaired-driving fatal crashes occurred. The overall findings in this study may help law enforcement agencies around the country adjust their traffic enforcement intensity in order to reduce impaired driving in their community.

Risk, control and self-identity: Young drunk drivers' experiences with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs

Aim This article explores how young Danish drunk (and drug) drivers relate to the risk of driving under the influence (DUI). Design The study is based on qualitative interviews with 25 convicted drunk drivers who in 2010 participated in mandatory alcohol and traffic safety courses. The analysis follows Stephen Lyng's concept of “edgework”, focusing on volitional risk taking and its effect on the acting individual's self-identity. Results Drawing on the interviewees' accounts of being arrested for drunk driving, the analysis discusses three different categories of young drunk drivers. Those in the first category view a DUI arrest as a loss of control and a reminder of the risk of DUI. Those in the second present DUI as a reaction to what they perceive as untenable social demands. Those in the third see loss of control - such as causing a traffic accident - as the ultimate way of claiming control over their lives. Conclusion The study shows that young drunk drivers have different associations with DUI-related risks. The more constrained they feel in relation to society, the more likely it is that they will divorce negative experiences related to DUI such as being arrested or causing a traffic accident.

The arrest of drivers under the influence as a predictor of subsequent social disadvantage and death

BackgroundThe association between DUI (driving under the influence) and disadvantaged social background has been shown in cross-sectional studies, but less is known about the processes behind this phenomenon. We aimed to examine the effect of DUI arrest on subsequent social disadvantage in Finland during 1993–2006 to provide more understanding about the dynamics of DUI and marginalization and to study DUI arrest as a potential point of intervention. MethodsIn this longitudinal, register-based study the Register of DUI suspects (n=68894) was linked with the Employment Register. An age- and gender-matched reference population (n=67740) was drawn from the general Finnish population. A multi-state model was used to estimate the transition intensities between three different states (advantaged social status/disadvantaged social status/death) among three different DUI groups (alcohol only, prescription drugs, illicit drugs). ResultsCompared to references, the movement of DUI suspects between different social states was more dynamic in that they were more likely to either move to a disadvantaged social state or to an improved status (except DUI suspects using prescription drugs). A DUI's relative risk of death compared to references was high, especially if currently in advantaged social status. The effect of DUI did not diminish over time. ConclusionsDriving under the influence is associated with an increased long-term risk for social disadvantage. DUI arrest could serve as an opportunity for intervention in the marginalization process.

Rates and predictors of DUI among U.S.–Mexico border and non-border Mexican Americans

This paper examines driving under the influence (DUI) arrests and other related factors among Mexican Americans living in U.S.–Mexico border and non-border areas. Respondents in the non-border areas (primarily Houston and Los Angeles) constitute a multistage probability sample (N=1288) of these areas, interviewed as part of the 2006 Hispanic Americans Baseline Alcohol Survey (HABLAS). Respondents in the border area (N=1307) were interviewed between March 2009 and July 2010 and constitute a household probability sample of Mexican Americans living on the border. In both surveys, data were collected during computer assisted interviews conducted in respondents’ homes. The HABLAS and the border sample response rates were 76% and 67%, respectively. Border or non-border residential location was not associated with self-reported DUI, 12 month DUI arrest, or lifetime DUI arrest. An increase in consumption of 5 drinks per week was associated with an 18% increase in the chance of self-reporting DUI and an 18% increase in the probability of a lifetime DUI arrest. Binge drinkers were more likely to self-report a DUI event (OR=2.85, 95% CI=1.61–5.03; p<.001) and a lifetime DUI arrest (OR=2.81; 95% CI=1.43–5.53, p<.01). Most respondents, independent of residential location, recognized DUI as a major problem affecting Hispanics. However, while most correctly identified the legal blood alcohol content to drive in their state as .08g/dl or lower, approximately one third of individuals were unaware of the legal limit. Compared to their non-border counterparts, border men were more likely to identify a bar/tavern/club and border women were more likely to identify a friend or relative's home as the places of last drink before the most recent DUI trip originated. In conclusion, border and non-border Mexican Americans are not different regarding DUI rates. These rates are high in both groups, especially among men. Intervention strategies to decrease DUI should be implemented not only in drinking establishments but also with families.

Drink, drive, go to jail? A study of police officers arrested for drunk driving

The purpose of the current study is to provide empirical data on cases of police driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and/or drugs. The study identifies events that may have influenced the decision to arrest, including associated traffic accidents, fatalities, officer resistance, the refusal of field sobriety tests, and the refusal of blood alcohol content tests. The study is a quantitative content analysis of news articles identified through the Google News search engine using 48 automated Google Alerts queries. Data are analyzed on 782 DUI arrest cases of officers employed by 511 nonfederal law enforcement agencies throughout the United States. The study is the only study known to describe police officer DUI arrests as they occur within police agencies across the United States.

Functioning of Alcohol Use Disorder Criteria Among Men and Women with Arrests for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Many states require screening of individuals arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol to determine recidivism risk and the need for treatment based on severity of alcohol problems. Several screening instruments use DSM-IV criteria for alcohol abuse and dependence to assess alcohol problems in this population, but whether they adequately measure alcohol problems in individuals with DUIs has not been examined. In addition, gender differences in DUI samples suggest that female offenders have more severe alcohol problems than male offenders. The current study examines differences in alcohol criteria functioning by DUI history and gender using an item response theory (IRT) approach. Data from diagnostic interviews with 8,605 participants in the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism, including 1,655 who ever reported a DUI arrest (20% women), were used to examine differences in alcohol criteria functioning between men and women with and without DUIs. The factor underlying item response was conceptualized as unidimensional, representing alcohol problem severity. Social/interpersonal problems, larger/longer, and inability/persistent desire to quit displayed greater discrimination of IRT-defined alcohol problem severity among individuals with DUIs than those without. Irrespective of DUI status, women had a higher threshold than men for time spent drinking or recovering. Women without DUIs had a higher threshold than similar men for social/interpersonal problems. Taken as a whole, the criteria yielded similar amounts of information in all groups. DSM-IV criteria for alcohol abuse and dependence adequately detect alcohol problem severity in individuals with DUIs, and some are better at detecting severity in this particularly high-risk group than in individuals without DUIs. However, the criteria as a whole are equally effective in measuring alcohol problem severity among individuals with and without DUIs and may be used with confidence in screening DUI offenders.

Substance Use as a Predictor of Driving under the Influence (DUI) Rearrests. A 15-Year Retrospective Study

Background : Recidivism is a major problem in the prevention of DUI offenses. It is suggested that impairing substances used by drivers may relate to a higher risk of recidivism. This study aims to determine rearrest rates in different groups of arrested drivers focusing on different substances found in the blood. Material and Methods : The data utilized were obtained from the register of suspected DUI offenders maintained by the Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Data were available for the 15-year period between 1993 and 2007. The number of rearrests was traced from the individuals' ID codes. The mean blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of the DUI offenders was studied as well as their age at the time of the first arrest. Rearrest rates according to alcohol and drug findings were estimated using survival analysis methods. Results : At the time of the first arrest, the drivers with a single DUI arrest were older and had a lower BAC than those who had a later arrest. The proportion of female drivers decreased as the number of rearrests increased. Drivers with drugs only or a combination of drugs and alcohol had a significantly higher rearrest rate than drivers with alcohol alone. Drivers with amphetamines only had the highest rearrest rates. Findings of benzodiazepine and opioids alone did not increase the risk of rearrest in the long run. Young age, male sex, high blood alcohol level, and arrest during the nighttime and during weekdays constituted a higher risk for rearrest. Conclusions : A third of those suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs are rearrested within 15 years. Drugs, especially amphetamines, are a risk factor for faster rearrest. These results show that the groups at risk of recidivism can be pinpointed. Interventions to prevent recidivism should be developed particularly for drugged drivers. Substance abuse beginning in adolescence seems to be a greater risk.

Too young to drink but old enough to drive under the influence: A Study of underage offenders as seen in substance abuse treatment in Texas

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a major road safety problem. Historically, alcohol has been assumed to play a larger role in crashes and DUI education programs have reflected this assumption, although recent evidence suggests that younger drivers are becoming more likely to drive drugged than to drive drunk. This is a study of 7096 Texas clients under age 21 who were admitted to state-funded treatment programs between 1997 and 2007 with a past-year DUI arrest, DUI probation, or DUI referral. Data were obtained from the State's administrative dataset. Multivariate logistic regressions models were used to understand the differences between those minors entering treatment as a DUI as compared to a non-DUI as well as the risks for completing treatment and for being abstinent in the month prior to follow-up. A major finding was that over time, the primary problem for underage DUI drivers changed from alcohol to marijuana. Being abstinent in the month prior to discharge, having a primary problem with alcohol rather than another drug, and having more family involved were the strongest predictors of treatment completion. Living in a household where the client was exposed to alcohol abuse or drug use, having been in residential treatment, and having more drug and alcohol and family problems were the strongest predictors of not being abstinent at follow-up. As a result, there is a need to direct more attention towards meeting the needs of the young DUI population through programs that address drug as well as alcohol consumption problems.

Substance Abuse Problem Severity Among Rural and Urban Female DUI Offenders

Objectives: Although there has been an overall decline in the rates of driving under the influence (DUI) over the past two decades, this decrease has not occurred uniformly across all groups of DUI offenders. For example, the proportion of female DUI offenders has significantly increased. Furthermore, DUI arrest rates remain higher in less populated areas of the country. The present study examines indicators of problem severity among female DUI offenders across graduated levels of rurality. Methods: A total of 19,094 substance abuse assessment records from females convicted of DUI between 2002 and 2006 in Kentucky were examined. Beale codes were used to define the extent to which the county of conviction was rural. Results: Rurality was significantly and positively associated with multiple DUI offenses, being underage, drug problems, prevalence of DSM-IV-TR substance dependence and abuse criteria, being referred to substance abuse treatment rather than an education only intervention, and referral noncompliance. Blood alcohol concentration and alcohol problems were inversely related to rurality. Conclusion: The study suggests that problem severity among female DUI offenders may be greater in rural areas and could produce challenges for practitioners who assess and treat rural female DUI offenders.