Drunk drivers show risky lifetime drinking habits

Many people convicted of drunk driving may have a lifelong struggle with risky drinking habits, a new study suggests.

In interviews with 700 adults with a drunk-driving conviction, researchers found nearly half had either been drinking heavily for the long haul, or had fallen back into heavy drinking after trying to cut down for a time.

What's more, between one-fifth and one-third of those chronically risky drinkers met the definitions for alcohol or drug dependence, or for mental health conditions like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

"A DWI conviction identifies people at risk," said study leader Dr. Sandra C. Lapham, of the Behavioral Health Research Center of the Southwest in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

"It's a red flag," she said in an interview, "and it's an opportunity to intervene."

DWI stands for "driving while intoxicated." Some U.S. states use the term DUI, for "driving under the influence."

Lifetime Drinking Course of Driving-While-Impaired Offenders

Findings

Risky drinking was prevalent at all ages for both genders. Almost half the population reported either a lifetime drinking course of risky drinking (19%) or resumed risky drinking after at least one interval of abstinence or moderate drinking (25%), while about one fifth followed a never-risky or risky-to-moderate drinking course. Offenders with a lifetime diagnosis of substance dependence more often transitioned to risky drinking, and those with lifetime alcohol dependence were more prone to transition to abstinence. Across time, those who began risky drinking at age 15 or later quit at double the rate of those who began before age 15. Women's and men's drinking courses were similar, but women began risky drinking at a later age and more often moved to abstinence.

Conclusions

Among people convicted of driving while impaired in the US, younger age of initiation of drinking and co-occurrence of psychiatric and substance use appear to be associated with a poorer trajectory of subsequent risky drinking behaviour. Women who are convicted of driving while impaired appear to start drinking later in life and be more likely subsequently to become abstainers.

Sandra C. Lapham MD, MPH,FASAM,
Betty J. Skipper PhD,
Marcia Russell PhD

Usually, courts mandate DWI offenders be screened for alcohol or drug dependence.

But, Lapham noted, people have to pay for that screening themselves. And even if they are screened, they may be "motivated to underestimate" their drinking levels, Lapham said.

Some DWI offenders with drinking problems may not believe anything is wrong. Others may want help, but can't pay for treatment, Lapham said.