NCJ Number
113596
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: (Summer 1988) Pages: 367-384
Date Published
1988
Length
18 pages
Annotation
A large representative sample of over 11,000 New York State secondary school students aged 16 years and older was used to study the relationships between DWI, alcohol use, other drug use, and numerous social factors.
Abstract
Multivariate analysis indicated that driving while intoxicated is a prevalent problem, occurring among almost a quarter of the high school students in the past year. Thirteen percent of the students report driving a car under the influence of drugs during the past year. A strong relationship occurs between driving under the effects of alcohol and driving while high on other drugs. DWI is strongly related to various sociodemographic factors such as age, sex, ethnicity and geographic region. For instance, males are more likely than females to drive while intoxicated, as are students 18 years and older. Whites have the greatest frequency of DWI, followed by Hispanics. Black students reporting of DWI is relatively low compared to that of white students. Furthermore, DWI is found to be part of a complex network of adolescent problem behaviors including other alcohol-related problems, illicit drug abuse and school misconduct. 30 references. 3 figures. 3 tables.