This paper discusses the results of some researches on alcoholics' relapses, and makes some proposals for traffic safety. Today, long-term abstinence is seen as the most favourable result of treatment for alcoholism, but relapse is regarded as its most common outcome. Although relapse is more common than abstinence after the treatment of different addictions, its effects can be very different. The drinking behaviour of alcoholics after treatment is very variable. A longer, more intensive inpatient treatment for alcoholism leads to longer abstinence and fewer and shorter relapse episodes. Relapses often follow negative life events. Primary and secondary relapse prevention are realistic goals for inpatient-treated alcoholics. Drinking drivers and alcoholics seem to come from different populations. Treatment programmes for drunk drivers should first assess their positive alcohol assumption expectations, as they very strongly predict renewed alcohol consumption. Multiple drunken driving offenders need additional treatment and steady, controlled, supervised aftercare. The social situation of drunk drivers needs special attention, but they should have limited prospects of recovering their driving licences, and then subject only to behavioural conditions. Closer cooperation is needed between traffic researchers and clinical psychologists.
Abstract