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Attitude Changes in DWI Offenders: A Study of a Short-Term Treatment Program

NCJ Number
154247
Journal
Journal of Addictions and Offender Counseling Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1995) Pages: 51-58
Author(s)
G A Juhnke; T J Sullivan; A E Harman
Date Published
1995
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Alcohol and other drug abuse treatment that focused on behavioral and attitude changes helped driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenders accept responsibility for their drinking and driving offenses.
Abstract
Study participants included 28 individuals in a North Carolina county who were required to obtain an alcohol and other drug abuse assessment and participate in the Substance Abuse Treatment (SAT) Program following their DWI convictions. Each participant completed the Substance Abuse Life Circumstances Evaluation and attended an assessment interview with the county's DWI coordinator. A DWI questionnaire was created that consisted of 21 statements regarding individual attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors related to drinking and driving. Individual responses to this questionnaire were tallied to yield a Personal Responsibility Score. It appeared that participation in the SAT Program increased the willingness of DWI offenders to accept personal responsibility for their drinking behavior and that the SAT Program was equally effective for male and female offenders and for first-time and multiple offenders. An appendix contains the DWI questionnaire. 16 references