Use of the NCA-modified assessment with a population of intoxicated drivers

Given the proliferation of state laws affecting drunk drivers, the recently passed Wisconsin provision which mandates alcohol assessment for all convicted offenders is of particular interest. When applied during a 2-yr. period in Racine County, WI (1 yr. prior to the enactment of the policy and 1 yr. after passage), most of the persons assessed for operating a vehicle while intoxicated were judged to be irresponsible users of alcohol (social drinkers). Those assessed as alcohol dependent were numerous and were sent to treatment rather than educationally oriented rehabilitation programs. Addressing the issue of predicting which factors would influence the referral to education versus treatment programs, the study showed that repeaters, users of the human services, and those persons having higher concentrations of blood alcohol tended to be sent to treatment. Use of the MOD-CRIT assessment instrument provides the state alcohol treatment system with a means by which drinking drivers can systematically be referred to appropriate rehabilitation programs. Although some margin of error may exist during the assessment process, mandatory assessment is deemed preferable to individualized reports that are open to bias and interpretation.