SMADIT — Joint action against alcohol and drugs in traffic — is a method that is intended to reduce the number of impaired drivers and to reduce the number of repeated drunk driving offenses. The collaboration involves mainly the police, the social services and the dependency care and treatment services. The aim of SMADIT is to quickly offer treatment to suspected drunk and drug drivers if they need help to overcome their addiction. In this study, twelve people who had a drunk driving incident about a year previously, were interviewed about their lives today. They have all, thanks to the SMADIT method, come to social services or dependency care, and some have also participated in treatment courses or programs in order to amend alcohol dependence or abuse. SMADIT can be considered to be of great benefit and have a positive effect on drunk driving based on the following: • Informants' appreciation and gratitude for receiving the SMADIT offer from the police, because they are unsure if they by themselves would have contacted the social services or the dependency care and treatment services. • The understanding of alcohol use and alcohol consumption the informants have received in dialogue with social services or addiction services, in dialogue with probation officers or by attending courses and rehabilitation programs. • The informants' changed behaviour when it comes to drinking alcohol, where most drink much less or abstain entirely. • The informants' change in attitude regarding the importance of not drinking and driving as a result of the risk of causing death or injury in an accident. As a result of the study some suggestions for improvement are raised: • The police hand over the drunk driver to the dependent care. • Requirement to participate in a conversation with social services or the dependency care after driving drunk. • Coordination of the SMADIT method and the alcohol interlocks program. • A "drunk driving-pilot", in form of a physical person, who can provide accurate information, guidance and answers to questions about the alco-lock program. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting