IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL DRINKING-DRIVING RECIDIVISTS: DO NON-OBVIOUS INDICATORS HELP?

This study addressed two related questions concerning screening processes for convicted drunk drivers: first, do these individuals falsify information to avoid detection; and second, do non-obvious indicators improve the ability to detect potential recidivists? Two samples of New York State Drinking Driver Program (DDP) participants were used. The first consisted of 1,592 first time drunk driving offenders who complete the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) and RIA Self Inventory (RIASI) screening instruments under confidential conditions. The second sample of 513 first time offenders completed these instruments under normal screening conditions. The MAST contains 25 items that are directly associated with alcohol-related problems. In contrast, the RIASI contains 15 alcohol related items associated with alcohol beliefs, family history for alcohol problems, and drinking practices, and 31 non-obvious or more distal items that reflect areas associated with alcohol or drug problems. The utility of including non-obvious indicators in the screening process is discussed.