Rehabilitation for convicted drinking drivers (second offenders): effects on mortality

The mortality experience of convicted drinking drivers (second offenders) (N = 347) randomly assigned to rehabilitation and control groups in two Ontario cities was examined. Over a follow-up period ranging between 8 and 13 years, 14 (11.0%) of the controls and 17 (7.7%) of the rehabilitation group died. Direct comparisons of the randomly assigned control and treatment groups revealed a tendency for lower total mortality and significantly lower mortality from accidental and violent death in those assigned to rehabilitation. Additional comparisons involving a combined rehabilitation group (N = 487) (rehabilitation participants randomly and not randomly assigned) confirmed these observations.