THE TRAFFIC SAFETY EFFECTIVENESS OF EDUCATIONAL COUNSELING PROGRAMS FOR MULTIPLE OFFENSE DRUNK DRIVERS

This document is the final report concerning the effectiveness of the CDUI Project's educational counseling programs for multiple DUI offenders. There is a complemental report on education program effectiveness for first offenders. Multiple (second) offense drunk drivers were randomly assigned to year-long group counseling--with and without chemotherapy (disulfiram), or biweekly contacts (26, 15-minute interviews over a year), or a non-treatment control group. Treatment effectiveness was measured by DUI offenses, accident involvement, and client life changes occurring subsequent to assignment. Considering the total second offender research sample, the results indicated that the counseling programs produced a significant reduction in DUI recidivism relative to the control group. The addition of chemotherapy to counseling had no significant effect on recidivism. Biweekly contacts were found to be as effective in reducing DUI recidivism as group counseling during the treatment period, but there was a tendency for the biweekly contacts effect to diminish more rapidly following the end of treatment contact. The analysis of client subsamples suggested that the biweekly contacts procedure was not appropriate for all clients. The procedure appeared particularly ineffective for the more highly educated clients (one or more years college). The Project's treatment programs had no significant effect on accident involvement. Neither of the secondary interventions, letter monitoring or follow-up interviews, had any traffic safety impact. For clients who completed their counseling program, chemotherapy was effective in helping them reduce their total alcohol consumption. Consumption was maintained at a lower level than would have been expected without chemotherapy for up to 14 months beyond the termination of the disulfiram support. Other life areas showed no treatment effects.

• Corporate Authors:

  Sacramento County Health Department

  Comp Driving Under Influence Alcohol Offender Treat Dem Proj
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95814

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  Office of Driver and Pedestrian Programs, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Reis Jr, R E
• Publication Date: 1982-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 165 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol use; Crashes; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Measures of effectiveness; Psychotherapy; Recidivism; Safety programs; Traffic safety education
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness; Treatment programs
• Old TRIS Terms: Alcohol education programs; Chemotherapy; Group counseling
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00396150
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: CDUI-M-82 Final Rpt., HS-806 557
• Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-6-01414
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1985 12:00AM