title: Characteristics and predictors of recidivist drink-drivers.
abstract: The current study compared characteristics of nonrecidivist versus recidivist drink-drivers and of recidivists in their first versus second appearance at Back on Track (BOT), the remedial measures program for impaired drivers in Ontario, Canada.
  
  
  
  Information from 59,134 convicted drivers who participated in BOT between 2000 and 2010 was examined to identify drivers who completed the program a second time following reconviction.
  
  
  
  A total of 586 recidivists were identified. Compared to nonrecidivist drivers, recidivists at first attendance were more likely to be male and had higher scores on measures of alcohol dependence and adverse legal consequences of substance use. Compared to nonrecidivist drivers, recidivists at second attendance were significantly older, had a higher income, were more likely to be retired, and were less likely to be employed part-time. They had fewer legal problems. Recidivists reported fewer drinking days and fewer drinks per occasion but greater use of benzodiazepines than nonrecidivists and had higher scores on a measure of future risk of alcohol- and drug-related problems. Comparison of recidivists' characteristics at first versus second attendance confirmed many of these findings, with second-time recidivists reporting fewer drinks per drinking day and greater use of benzodiazepines and having higher scores on a measure of future substance use problems than first-time recidivists.
  
  
  
  Results suggest that identification of drivers at increased risk of recidivism may be possible at first program attendance by examining indicators of increased alcohol-related problems. In addition, recidivists appear to show a greater readiness to change at second attendance. Implications for remedial program development and recommendations for future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.|b Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wickens
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Rosely
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Flam-Zalcman
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.|b Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stoduto
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Chloe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Docherty
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Rita K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D000066448:Driving Under the Influence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
keywords: alcohol; drink drivers; drugs; interventions