Effects of Short-Term Rehabilitation on Alcohol Consumption and Drinking-related Behaviors - An Eight-month Follow-up Study of Drunken Drivers

• NCJ Number: 77231
• Journal: International Journal of the Addictions Volume: 15 Issue: 6 Dated: (1980) Pages: 821-838
• Author(s): P R Swenson; T R Clay
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 18 pages
• Contract Number(s): DOT-HS-052-1-068
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Admin
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: This research was undertaken as part of the evaluation of the City of Phoenix Alcohol Safety Action Project (ASAP).

Annotation

This study assessed the effects of short-term alcohol treatment intervention on the subsequent drinking behavior and drinking-related problems of drunk drivers.

Abstract

Subjects were 436 persons referred for rehabilitation as a result of a driving-while-intoxicated arrest in Phoenix, Ariz. These persons were screened to determine whether they could be classified as social or problem drinkers and then randomly assigned to either treatment or comparison group conditions. The social drinker treatment group attended four-session, 10-hour programs which imparted information concerning alcohol and its effects on driving and interpersonal relationships; and the problem-drinker treatment group participated in six-session, 15-hour programs which included educational aspects in addition to small-group interaction and confrontation aimed to develop personal awareness. Social and problem drinkers in the comparison group took part in a home study course in which they were required to read a learning guide and complete written exercises. Improvement was inferred from response changes to a questionnaire and personal interview administered immediately before and again 8 months following entry into treatment. It was hypothesized that subjects exposed to short-term treatment would improve relative to their baseline performance, while those receiving minimal exposure would not. However, the results indicated that short-term treatment intervention had no more effect than minimal exposure in improving the quality of social or problem drinkers' life situations. These findings suggest a need for more innovative research strategies and a commitment to the development of longer and more therapeutically oriented treatment programs. Related studies are reviewed. Data tables and graphs and a nine-item reference list are included.