Drinking environment and sociodemographic factors among DWI offenders.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to identify issues for public health/traffic safety in prevention of DWI and alcohol-related traffic injuries/deaths by investigating the relationships among drinking locations, sociodemographic characteristics and drinking-environment-related factors of convicted DWI offenders.


METHODS
Subjects were clients (N = 5,154, 79% male) referred to the Lovelace Comprehensive Screening Program for alcohol-related assessment and were interviewed by counselors using a structured, computer-based questionnaire. Differences among ethnic/racial and gender categories were analyzed by logistic regression.


RESULTS
(1) Some groups showed a higher rate of DWI convictions, compared to the adult county population: young, single male: Hispanic and Mexican National; divorced/ separated/widowed (increasing with age): (2) older, educated or employed offenders reported drinking more in bars/lounges, while younger offenders were more likely drinking in private parties; (3) Hispanic and Mexican National men showed equal likelihood of drinking with friends and relatives in bars/lounges, whereas non-Hispanic white males reported drinking more with friends; and (4) Native Americans were associated with higher blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and alcohol-related problems.


CONCLUSIONS
(1) Young offenders' drinking and social behavior in private parties has implications for traffic safety; (2) divorced/separated offenders suggest a need for attention to underlying emotional problems; (3) strong family ties among Hispancies and Mexican Nationals may be a factor in remedial treatment; (4) Native American BAC statistics showed a need for further study; (5) multiple offenders' association with away-from-home drinking locations increased their risk of being involved in fatal crashes; and (6) server intervention programs should be emphasized to minimize intoxication of customers in commercial establishments.
Substance Abuse Research Program, Lovelace Institutes, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102, USA.
I
I
Chang
S C
SC
Lapham
K J
KJ
Barton
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People