Evaluation of an educational intervention upon knowledge, attitudes, and behavior concerning drinking/drugged driving

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Criminology
• Adolescent Psychology

Background:

• Driving under the influence (DUI) among juveniles is a significant public safety concern.
• Effective interventions are needed to reduce recidivism in young offenders.
• Previous evaluations of DUI education programs for juveniles have yielded mixed results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Contra Costa County educational program for juveniles convicted of DUI.
• To assess the program's impact on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to DUI.
• To determine if program participation influences the rate of repeat DUI offenses in juveniles.

Main Methods:

• A study group of over 600 juveniles convicted of DUI between 1983 and 1988 was analyzed.
• Over 100 program participants were assessed for changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.
• County juvenile records were analyzed using logit procedure to compare repeat offenses between participants and non-participants, controlling for demographic and offense variables.

Main Results:

• Program participants demonstrated significant increases in knowledge regarding DUI.
• Participants exhibited stronger negative attitudes towards driving under the influence.
• Juveniles who attended the educational program showed a statistically significant reduction in repeat DUI offenses compared to those who did not participate.

Conclusions:

• The Contra Costa County juvenile DUI educational program is effective in improving knowledge and attitudes.
• The program demonstrably reduces recidivism among juvenile DUI offenders, independent of demographic factors or offense severity.
• This educational intervention serves as a valuable tool for addressing juvenile DUI and enhancing public safety.