NCJ Number
63049
Journal
Journal of Studies on Alcohol Volume: 40 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 222-229
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
ANALYSIS OF BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION DURING ARREST, QUANTITY-FREQUENCY DRINKING LEVEL, SCORES ON AN ALCOHOL IMPAIRMENT TEST, AND A PERSONALITY TEST DIFFERENTIATED SEVEN TYPES OF DRUNK DRIVERS.
Abstract
A GROUP OF 1,500 MEN WERE RANDOMLY DRAWN FROM THOSE ARRESTED IN PHILADELPHIA FOR DRUNK DRIVING, IN 1975-1976. FOUR TESTS ADMINISTERED TO THEM REPORTED THEIR DAILY INTAKE OF ALCOHOL AND PROBLEMS THE SUBJECTS ATTRIBUTED TO THEIR EXCESSIVE DRINKING, MEASURED THEIR PHYSIOLOGICAL ADAPTION TO ALCOHOL (BREATHANALYZER TEST), AND INDICATED THEIR TENDENCIES TO OVERREACT TO STRESS. THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE MEN WAS ALMOST 38 YEARS, 51 PERCENT WERE BLACK, 54 PERCENT WERE SINGLE, AND 80 PERCENT WERE EMPLOYED. MOREOVER, 20 PERCENT HAD BEEN RAISED WITHOUT FATHERS, AND 16 PERCENT REPORTED FATHERS OR MOTHERS WHO DRANK HEAVILY. A TOTAL OF 28 PERCENT HAD BEEN DRUNK DRIVING OFFENDERS PRIOR TO THEIR ARRESTS. OF THE TOTAL, 1,314 FELL INTO 7 GROUPS OR PATTERNS ACCORDING TO THEIR SCORES ABOVE OR BELOW THE GRAND MEAN FOR THE 1,500 MEN. WHITES MOST FREQUENTLY SCORED LOW, WHILE MEN WITH TWO OR MORE HIGH SCORES REPORTED PREVIOUS DRUNK DRIVING ARRESTS OR PREVIOUS TREATMENT FOR ALCOHOLISM. THOSE WITH ALL BELOW-MEAN SCORES APPEAR TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THEIR DRINKING. MEN WITH ABOVE-MEAN SCORES IN TWO TESTS REQUIRE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND LOSS OF DRIVING LICENSES. MEN WITH ABOVE-MEAN SCORES IN THREE OF THE TESTS REVEAL AN ARRAY OF ALCOHOL OR DRUG ABUSE PROBLEMS AND REQUIRE EXTENSIVE THERAPY, REHABILITATION, AND LICENSE REVOCATION. REFERENCES, FOOTNOTES, AND TABULAR INFORMATION ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)