The Mississippi DUI (Driving Under the Influence) Probation Follow-Up Project, conducted between 1975 and 1981, evaluated the effectiveness of DUI schools, as well as other interventions such as probation and group therapy. An unexpected finding (in addition to others) emerged from the project. A self-administered questionnaire, the Current Status section of the Life Activities Inventory (LAI), designed to measure changes in various life areas that might be affected by drinking problems was assigned to a subgroup of offenders - offenders assigned to both the treatment and the control conditions. These offenders were asked to complete the questionnaire when they entered the project and again at 6 and 12 month follow-ups. Non-problem drinkers exposed to the LAI had 34.4% fewer rearrests than those not exposed to the LAI. The effectiveness of the LAI as a DUI countermeasure appeared to be limited to non-problem drinkers and to offenders with nine or more years of education. The LAI asks in-depth questions about current living situations, employment situations, health, alcohol use, financial problems, marital problems, etc. By reflecting on these issues, offenders may conclude that a lifestyle change is desirable. Furthermore, by completing the questionnaire, any negative conclusions about oneself and attendant resolutions to change are one's own voluntary and private decisions and commitments. The findings of the DUI Probation Follow-Up Project suggest that administering the LAI Questionnaire in DUI schools may be a powerful and extremely inexpensive way to enhance the effectiveness of DUI schools. However, the DUI Probation Follow-Up Project was not originally designed to measure the effectiveness of the LAI in reducing DUI recidivism, and while LAI administration was not systematically associated with background characteristics or assignment to treatment modalities, there may have been unknown factors operating which resulted in a spurious finding. The present study replicated the earlier study to confirm whether or not the LAI Questionnaire is an effective DUI countermeasure when added to the curriculum of the traditional DUI school. The present study failed to support the thesis that administration of the LAI Questionnaire is a way to enhance the effectiveness of DUI schools. (A)
Samenvatting