BACKGROUND: Most US courts use screening programs to evaluate substance-abuse problems of convicted driving while impaired (DWI) offenders. Typically self-report information determines need for treatment. However, little is known about the accuracy of self-reports of alcohol-use problems in this population. METHODS: DSM-III-R alcohol abuse and dependence diagnoses from an initial, court-ordered screening evaluation of 583 female and 495 male convicted DWI offenders were compared with diagnoses and other self-reported information from a voluntary, noncoerced interview 5 years after the screening referral. RESULTS: At initial screening, 16.8% of offenders were diagnosed with alcohol abuse and 20.1% with alcohol dependence. At the 5-year interview, 19.9 and 60.1% received a retrospective diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence at the age at which they were screened. Significantly fewer of those with a retrospective alcohol diagnosis reported that their alcohol use self-reports at screening were "very accurate" compared to those with no retrospective diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Although many DWI offenders undergoing screening have diagnosable alcohol-related problems, underreporting is common, leading to inaccurate diagnosis and, therefore, a missed treatment opportunity. The research community and policymakers should review and reform the current screening system for alcohol-impaired drivers to better address this serious public health problem.
BACKGROUND: Most US courts use screening programs to evaluate substance-abuse problems of convicted driving while impaired (DWI) offenders. Typically self-report information determines need for treatment. However, little is known about the accuracy of self-reports of alcohol-use problems in this population. METHODS: DSM-III-R alcohol abuse and dependence diagnoses from an initial, court-ordered screening evaluation of 583 female and 495 male convicted DWI offenders were compared with diagnoses and other self-reported information from a voluntary, noncoerced interview 5 years after the screening referral. RESULTS: At initial screening, 16.8% of offenders were diagnosed with alcohol abuse and 20.1% with alcohol dependence. At the 5-year interview, 19.9 and 60.1% received a retrospective diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence at the age at which they were screened. Significantly fewer of those with a retrospective alcohol diagnosis reported that their alcohol use self-reports at screening were "very accurate" compared to those with no retrospective diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Although many DWI offenders undergoing screening have diagnosable alcohol-related problems, underreporting is common, leading to inaccurate diagnosis and, therefore, a missed treatment opportunity. The research community and policymakers should review and reform the current screening system for alcohol-impaired drivers to better address this serious public health problem.
Authors: Vivia V McCutcheon; Arpana Agrawal; Andrew C Heath; Howard J Edenberg; Victor M Hesselbrock; Marc A Schuckit; John R Kramer; Kathleen K Bucholz Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2011-06-01 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: Vivia V McCutcheon; Andrew C Heath; Howard J Edenberg; Richard A Grucza; Victor M Hesselbrock; John R Kramer; Laura Jean Bierut; Kathleen K Bucholz Journal: Addict Behav Date: 2008-12-24 Impact factor: 3.913
Authors: Sophie Couture; Marie Claude Ouimet; Christina Gianoulakis; Jacques Tremblay; Nmk Ng Ying Kin; Serge Brochu; Jens Pruessner; Katarina Dedovic; Thomas G Brown Journal: Subst Abuse Date: 2015-04-01