Instructions for this Report
Summary of Articles
Conclusion
DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) activism takes on the abuse of alcohol in an arena that takes advantage of its widespread use and interest: the World Wide Web. It addresses the issues and concerns of alcoholism.
This report is about the contents of the NCADD website.
I think that this site's main purpose is to alert people about the dangers of DWI. The streets are dangerous enough as it is; we hardly need it to be filled with intoxicated drivers. Also, alcoholism is a serious personal and social problem that merits serious attention. Awareness is accomplished by giving the reader a complete breakdown of the issue: general profiles of drinkers, statistics, studies and their results, treatment methods, and current issues.
In this point of view, DWI is an illness. It is not, however, regarded as an illness whose sufferers are "victims" who need to be pitied. Alcoholism seems to be treated as an illness that can be beaten through determination and time.
This site is an extensive index linking articles about to DWI and related subjects. The website's articles are divided into these six main topics: youth, young adult, chronic, legal, treatment, and technology. Each of the categories is linked to several, more in-depth articles from various journals and publications.
The statistics given here serve to prove several things. First of all, alcoholism can strike anyone. No particular race, gender, age, or other criterion is singled out as susceptible to alcoholism, although there are certain demographical and statistical tendencies. Secondly, alcoholism and DWI are personally and socially damaging. Finally, while alcoholism is tough to overcome, it is beatable.
I found this site to be thorough, extensive, and informative. Many of the areas of interest I had in this topic were found and discussed here. It had statistics, examples, good suggestion, and it was easy to understand its point of view. Statements were supported by facts, figures, and statistics; the site was not just a bunch of opinions slapped together hastily.
Focus Area 1- Youth
When it comes to young people, the site says, it is important to emphasize the need for a change in attitude. Teens don't stop drinking alcohol just because we give them statistics and expect them to stop. If anything, we have only increased their curiosity and encourage them to experiment with alcohol more.
Instead teens have to be encourages to develop a sense of ownership about the issue. They also need to learn how not to succumb to peer pressure and step in when a friend tries to drive somewhere drunk. Other suggestions include complementing programs like this with zero-tolerance laws and license revocation.
Other Links on this Report's Page
Key Features for Dealing with the Chronic Drinking Driver
Stop the Drinking Driver: A Behavioral School-Based Prevention Program
Focus Area 2- Young Adults
For the most part, consider it a normal part of life to drink and drive. They find that many positives are associated with it- social acceptance, attention, and relief from boredom and stress are among the plusses. And while young adults do realize the danger involved in drinking and driving, most are unlikely to change their attitudes or behavior completely.
The best prevention methods for young adults is something that is simple, direct, clear, and aimed well at this target group. The message should be specifically designed for this age group.
Other Links on this Report's Page
National Survey of Drinking and Driving Attitudes and Behavior: 1995: Part I
National Survey of Drinking and Driving Attitudes and Behavior: 1995: Part II
Focus Area 3- Chronic Drinkers
The most prevalent deterrent to chronic drinking is revocation of license. However, some chronic drinkers do not care if their license has been taken away and continue driving.
Another way to prevent a driver from driving is to seize their license plates. This was found to be highly effective.
The vast majority of chronic drinkers continued to drive after their licenses were suspended. Jail time and public service as punishment did little to deter them from drinking and driving again.
Ignition interlock devices, which prevent the vehicle from being operated, were found to provide only temporary relief.
For best results, treatment needed to be combined with legal sanctions. Single-handed approaches were simply not enough to combat this problem.
Other Links on this Report's Page
Alternative Sanctions For Repeat DWI Offenders
Attitude Changes in DWI Offenders: A Study of A Short-Term Treatment Program
Effect of Minnesota's License Plate Impoundment Law on Recidivism of Multiple DWI Violators
Environmental Strategies to Reduce Chronic Drunk Driving
Evaluation of Treatment and Monitoring Programs for Drunken Drivers
Fact Sheet on Chronic Drinking Drivers
Final Results From a Meta-Analysis of Remedial Interventions with Drink/Drive Offenders
Key Features for Dealing with the Chronic Drinking Driver
Promising Strategies for Dealing with the Chronic Drinking Drivers
Strategies to Deal with the Chronic Drinking Driver
The Technology Answer to the Chronic Drinking Driver
Treating Drunk Drivers with Moral Reconation Therapy: A Two Year Recidivism Study
Treatment of Chronic Drunk Drivers: The Turning Point Project
Focus Area 4- Technology
Most legal sanctions against drunk driving don't deter people from driving drunk.
However, mechanical means of drunk driving prevention- such as the ignition interlock device- have shown to reduce the rate of recidivism. While they do not prevent the driver from driving drunk after they have been removed from the vehicle, they do take potentially dangerous drivers off the road and in effect save lives.
Electronic monitoring devices have also shown to be useful.
Other Links on this Report's Page
Alternative Sanctions For Repeat DWI Offenders
The Technology Answer to the Chronic Drinking Driver
Focus Area 5- Treatment
While legal sanctions and technology have been useful in deterring drunk driving, they are ineffective on repeat offenders. Education programs have also proven ineffective.
The most effective combination for treating drunk drivers consists of education , licensing sanctions, counseling, and follow-up supervision. It may also take as long as two years for a person to successfully change his behaviors to become a safer, sober driver.
Other Links on this Report's Page
Attitude Changes in DWI Offenders: A Study of the Short-Term Treatment Program
Evaluation of Treatment and Monitoring Programs for Drunken Drivers
Final Results From a Meta-Analysis of Remedial Interventions with Drink/Drive Offenders
Treating Drunk Drivers with Moral Reconation Therapy: A Two Year Recidivism Study
Treatment of Chronic Drunk Drivers: The Turning Point Project
Focus Area 6- Legal Sanctions
While many people believe that penalties for drunk driving need to be harsher, they also believe that the chances of being caught driving drunk are low. Indeed, statistics back up this belief.
To deter drunk driving, our laws need to be better enforced.
License suspension and incarceration do little to prevent people from driving drunk.
Taking away one's vehicle has proven to be an effective way of reducing drunk driving.
The ignition interlock system is still seen as the best way to combat this problem. It needs more widespread implementation in order to be as effective as possible.
Other Links on this Report's Page
Alternative Sanctions for Repeat DWI Offenders
Effects of Minnesota's License Plate Impoundment Law on Recidivism of Multiple DWI Violators
Environmental Strategies to Reduce Chronic Drunk Driving
Key Features For Dealing with the Chronic Drinking Driver
National Survey of Drinking and Driving Attitudes and Behavior: 1995: Part III
Promising Strategies for Dealing with the Chronic Drinking Driver
Strategies to Deal with the Chronic Drinking Driver
The Technology Answer to the Chronic Drinking Driver
I liked the thoroughness of this site, and it really seems to have a sincere interest in solving the DWI problem. It presents itself as a highly knowledged source of information on this topic.
However, I feel it handles the drunk driving problem in a late stage of the problem. It seems to come from the point of view that nothing can be done to stop people from drinking in the first place, or if something can be done, it isn't as important as preventing them from driving. I would prefer to see intervention earlier. I would like to see the focus shift to why people drink, and under what circumstances, and so on, in an attempt to get them to not drink at all.
To me, the problem is not one of drinking and driving. It's a problem of drinking. If we can do something about the drinking part, then we might not have to worry about the driving part.
More effort should be placed into preventing drinking in the first place, and not just to youth and adolescents but to people of all ages. Concentrating on one particular age group is a bad way at combating a problem like drinking and driving; it allows those not in the focus age group to slip through the cracks. If the main objective is to stop drunk driving, it should encompass all drunk drivers, not just a few.