TREATMENT ASPECTS OF THE DRIVER IMPROVEMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMME - PRESENTATION OF PAPER (FROM DIVERSION PROGRAMME FOR DRINKING DRIVERS - PROCEEDINGS OF A SEMINAR, 1977 - SEE NCJ-49618)

• NCJ Number: 49623
• Author(s): A P DIEHM
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: Sydney University
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

THIS COMMENTARY ON A PAPER PRESENTED AT A SEMINAR ON DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS FOR DRUNK DRIVING OFFENDERS IN AUSTRALIA TRACES PER CAPITA INCREASE IN CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL. A NEED TO REACH YOUNGER OFFENDERS IS EXPRESSED.

Abstract

THE NEW SOUTH WALES DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL ACCEPTS OFFENDERS WITH A BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT OF 0.15 OR HIGHER. CRITICS OF THE PROGRAM HAVE SUGGESTED THAT A LOWER BLOOD CONTENT CRITERIA BE USED BECAUSE YOUNGER PERSONS ARRESTED FOR DRUNK DRIVING USUALLY HAVE NOT REACHED SUCH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS. THE NEW SOUTH WALES HEALTH COMMISSION COMMUNITY ALCOHOL SERVICES, WHICH ADMINISTERS THE DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM, ORIGINALLY DOUBTED THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE DRUNK DRIVING PROBLEM WHICH ADMINISTERS THE DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM,ORIGINALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AUTHORITY OF A HEALTH COMMISSION TO PROVIDE COURT-ORDERED TREATMENT. EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN, HOWEVER, THAT THE PROBLEM IS GREATER THAN PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED. MANY OF THE PERSONS TREATED HAVE A LONG RECORD OF LICENSE SUSPENSIONS AND DRIVING WHILE DRINKING OFFENSES. PRIOR TO THIS, THERE WAS NO SUCH TREATMENT PROGRAM. IT IS HELD THAT THE USUAL JAIL AND LICENSE SUSPENSIONS HAVE NOT OFFERED ANY SOLUTION. GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS HAVE BROUGHT OUT TWO CHARACTERISTICS OF MOST OF THESE OFFENDERS: (1) THEY FAIL TO SEE ANY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEIR DRINKING AND THEIR JOB, MARITAL, OR OTHER PROBLEMS EVEN THOUGH THE RELATIONSHIP IS QUITE OBVIOUS TO OTHERS; AND (2) THEY FEEL LITTLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR DRUNK DRIVING. MOST ARE QUITE ASTONISHED WHEN THEY LEARN THE FACTS ABOUT AUTOMOBILES AND ALCOHOL. FIGURES ARE QUOTED WHICH SHOW THAT PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION OF ABSOLUTE ALCOHOL IN AUSTRALIA HAS RISEN FROM 4.24 LITRES IN 1936 TO 16.53 IN 1976. OTHER DATA IS PRESENTED WHICH SHOW INCREASINGLY HIGHER ALCOHOL CONCENTRATIONS IN YOUNGER PERSONS. LOWERING THE BLOOD LEVEL CRITERIA FOR THE DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM IS URGED TO CATCH THE DRINKING DRIVER BEFORE THE ALCOHOLISM REACHES AN ADVANCED STAGE. (GLR)