An evaluation and education program for driving while intoxicated offenders.

Area of Science:

• Military Health
• Addiction Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) is a significant issue, particularly among young male soldiers.
• Heavy drinking and alcohol-related issues contribute to motor-vehicle accidents and fatalities in this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a mandatory inpatient program for soldiers arrested for DWI.
• To assess the prevalence of alcohol abuse and dependence in this population.
• To identify factors associated with alcohol problems in soldiers with DWI.

Main Methods:

• Implemented a mandatory, inpatient evaluation and education program for soldiers within a week of DWI.
• Administered diagnostic criteria (DSM-III) and various questionnaires (Vaillant, MacAndrews, MMPI, Mortimer-Filkins).
• Analyzed demographic data, BAC at arrest, and blood hematology/chemistry values.

Main Results:

• Of 490 soldiers, 88% met DSM-III criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence.
• Factors linked to diagnosis included age, questionnaire scores, BAC, prior alcohol problems, and specific blood values.
• DWI serves as a critical indicator of underlying alcohol issues.

Conclusions:

• The inpatient program effectively identified a high prevalence of alcohol abuse/dependence among soldiers with DWI.
• DWI is a significant marker for serious alcohol-related problems requiring intervention.
• The findings support the necessity of comprehensive evaluation and education programs for affected soldiers.