This study was conducted to determine the association between arrest blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and alcohol use disorders among convicted drunk driving offenders. We analysed data from a 5-year follow-up study of offenders who initially reported to a court-ordered drunk driving screening program in Albuquerque, NM. The sample included 1184 subjects interviewed at follow-up: 45% were male, 36% non-Hispanic white, 47% Hispanic, 14% American Indian, and 3% belonged to other races. Subjects were interviewed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, which ascertains DSM-III-R diagnosis of alcohol abuse and dependence. If the age at onset of alcohol disorders was the same as or younger than the age at screening the person was classified as having alcohol abuse or dependence at the time of screening. Arrest BAC ranged from .01 to .45 (mean = .156). Alcohol dependence at screening was found for 58% of offenders with BAC < .15, 66% of offenders with BAC .15 to .19, and 72% of offenders with BACs of 0.20 or above (p < .001). The overall accuracy of BAC of .15 or higher and .20 or higher as a screening test for alcohol dependence ranged from .45 to .64. We conclude that although arrest BAC is associated with alcohol use disorders it provides limited utility as an objective indicator of alcohol dependence.
Abstract