Cognitive Predictors of Alcohol Involvement and Alcohol Consumption-Related Consequences in a Sample of Drunk-Driving Offenders

• NCJ Number: 225875
• Journal: Substance Use and Misuse Volume: 43 Issue: 14 Dated: 2008 Pages: 2089-2115
• Author(s): Lawrence M. Scheier; Sandra C. Lapham; Janet C'de Baca
• Date Published: 2008
• Length: 27 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the unique contribution of several measures of cognitive motivation to harmful alcohol use in convicted drunk drivers.

Abstract

Findings show a stronger linkage between somatic and psychological events, or situational cues, that prompt “heavy drinking.” Sample cues include fights, arguments, and problems with people at work, all of which imply a need for adaptive coping strategies to help the high-risk drinker to offset pressures or demands. Rather than implementing any one of several effective coping responses that would attenuate the effect of various stressors, driving while impaired (DWI) offenders respond by drinking, and their concern regarding potential deleterious effects from drinking does little to mitigate their drinking. The sequence of cognitive events precipitating drinking reinforces the need to develop internal control and self-regulatory mechanisms that attenuate stress, mollify the influence of relapse-based cure, and dampen urges to drink as part of therapeutic interventions. The relative strength of one type of cognition over another may result from the absolute reinforcement power attributed to a specific cognition; situational cues may carry a greater influence in predicting drinking outcomes and perceived consequences because they involve closer ties between meaningful and important social events and actual or anticipated outcomes. Urges and triggers may represent cognitive representations of physiological events, which are not shared consensually, are less powerful and reinforcing, and therefore are less motivating. Several key demographic characteristics emerged as influencing consumption patterns; overall, males were at greater risk for drinking, drinking-related consequences, and DWI offenses than were females. Data were collected from 1,208 consecutive female referrals and 1,407 male referrals from April 1989 to March 1992. Tables, figures, and references