Study Finds Repeat DUI Offenders Have High Mental Illness Rates
Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal DrugsAlso Included In: Mental Health; Public Health
Article Date: 22 Sep 2006 - 0:00 PDT
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A new study shows that alcohol may not be the only problem for repeat drunk drivers. More than half of DUI offenders also suffer from at least one mental illness in addition to a drug or alcohol-use disorder. The study found almost 60 percent of those with two or more DUI convictions reported experiencing major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder over their lifetime.
The study consisted of people convicted of at least two DUI offenses in the past 10 years, and 40 percent had three or more DUI arrests. The majority of both men and women reported having at least one psychiatric disorder, as well as alcohol- or drug-abuse or dependence. Women had higher rates of depression than men and were more likely to suffer PTSD.
"People who deal with drug and alcohol abusers need to understand there are often other disorders that need to be dealt with as well," said Sandra Lapham, M.D., M.P.H., principal investigator of the study. "That's why we need to screen repeat offenders for multiple disorders. The offender should be viewed as a unique person with a unique set of issues. If they include psychiatric problems, these should be treated along with drug and alcohol issues."
Lapham is director of the PIRE Behavioral Health Research Center of the Southwest in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She says the data suggests DUI evaluations by the courts and treatment programs should include psychiatric screening and assessments.
The study participants were part of a three-year program called Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants Intensive Supervision Program (DISP) developed by Multnomah County Circuit Court in Portland, Oregon. The volunteer program requires intensive probation, close monitoring and built-in punishments and rewards, in exchange for reduced jail time.
"The results of this study should encourage the courts to develop a more comprehensive approach to dealing with the hard-to-treat drinking driver," says Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Eric J. Bloch.
"Assessing the mental health of a DUI offender will help us choose the program that will reduce the chance of a re-offense."
The study published in the September edition of Journal of Studies on Alcohol was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
PIRE, or Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, is a national nonprofit public health research institute, funded mostly by federal science grants and contracts, with centers in eight U.S. cities. PIRE's website, http://www.PIRE.org, offers original content about PIRE research and programs. To stay informed about the latest research on public health problems, go to http://www.PIRE.org/subscribe to receive monthly updates on the vital work produced by PIRE.
Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation
http://www.PIRE.org
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14 Feb. 2012. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/52450.php>
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http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/52450.php.
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Visitor Opinions In Chronological Order (5)
DISP Program Goes Too Far
posted by Catherine on 13 Apr 2007 at 4:14 pmAs a loved one of someone that had been involved in the DISP program ( a "voluntary" bench probation for repeat DUI offenders) I would like to share my experience with you now. While I agree with the assesment that many, if not most, repeat offenders may have additional mental illnesses, I don't believe that the officials running this program have a clue about recovery from alchoholism.
For the client in this program there is no room for error, if they are discovered to have even one drink or even to be seen in an establishment that serves alcohol they are most often sent to jail. Many participants are under house arrest for months at a time (supervised with electronic monitoring anklets and breathalizers) as well as 6 additional months being added to their sentence for every violation of their probation. Often these sanctions occur multiple times.
There is little if any oversight by an independent agency, so persons involved are at the mercy of their probation officers. Those unable to afford legal council are provided public defenders often minutes before their court dates, and are ill-equipped to defend themselves. When people sign up for this program they agree to limits on their civil right, such as the admittance of lie detector test results in their case, potential searches of their homes and property, random frequent urinary analysis (of which now there is a 5 day test for the presence of alcohol), as well as mandatory AA meetings, mandatory private and group counseling. All of these tests, equipment, and classes are at the client' s expense.
These sanctions are very expensive and for those who may not earn a great deal this is obviously quite stressful. You may wonder why anyone would sign up for such a restrictive program that wasn't absolutely serious about being sober? When a person is convicted of more than one DUI in the state of Oregon their lawyer will offer either, I believe its 3 months jail time, a lengthy suspension, and a hefty fine. Or this program which if completed perfectly keeps the person out of jail and cancels the fine, the suspension still remains .
I believe that it is coercive, deceptive and cruel to offer this program in lieu of jail time. Alcoholics are not perfect people, no one is. It is far more merciful, as well as cost efficient, to VERY PUBLICLY state the legal consequences for EVERY drunk driver and to revoke the licenses of repeat offenders. Drinking and driving is a crime, being mentally ill shouldn't be.
DISP Lies
posted by Mellissa Day on 18 May 2007 at 4:44 pmI aggree with everything Catherine says and would like to add one other thing as I have been in the disp program personally. Disp demands honesty from the participant but gives none in turn. I was told at sentencing that there would be no fines if the program was successfully completed but now that I am half way thru I am being told that because there was a reckless driving charge that fine is not suspended only the fines for the DUII.
When I stated that I was told at sentencing there was no fines if I completed the program I was told I should have asked more questions. What a joke that is I didn't know to ask questions about fines as I was told there would be none. I can only say one other thing about this program I would not recommend it to anyone unless they don't want to go to jail at any cost as it will cost you mor in the long run than going to jail and paying the fines.
My cost for the fines alone would have been $2000 but now it will cost me between $4000 and $5000.
Approximately $2300 for OSHU treatment (and that was capped I have since learned that OHSU is removing that cap it may cost more now) $10 a month to so Multnomah can monitor police contact also the cost of electronic monitoring through Sentinel which I believe was $7 a day for 90 days after that it went to $45 a month for over a year and noy a $1000 dollar fine I did not know about> I would have been better off to take the jail time the way Oregons jails are crowded I probably would have been out in about 30 days and would have only cost $2000. One last thing I will probably be violated anyway as I can't afford to pay OHSU and a $1000 fine in what time I have left on my probation.
Get The Facts Straight
posted by Knowledgable about DISP on 4 Oct 2007 at 2:25 pmThis is a reply to the rather misinformed comments made by Catherine. Catherine's argument is quite off the mark. Catherine stated, "For the client in this program there is no room for error, if they are discovered to have even one drink or even to be seen in an establishment that serves alcohol they are most often sent to jail." The truth is, that if the client relapses or violates their probation and tells their PO about it, they don't get jail time...not one day. If they lie about it and try to hide it then yes, they could look at a few days of jail. If they have lied for the 10th time, it would probably be more than a few days. It really is a matter of public safely. If a person convicted of multiple DUII convictions is out and about with alcohol or drugs, then that poses a risk to the community. Being deceptive about it doesn't lead them to get the help they need, so then the court is forced to take action. That is what any sort of probation involves.
Catherine also stated, “…as well as 6 additional months being added to their sentence for every violation of their probation.” That is just flat out not true. Most probationers, regardless if they have had a probation violation or not, finish the program in the original time frame. She stated that probationers are on electronic monitoring for “months at a time.” The minimum is two months and the maximum is four months. Four months being for those who are on their fourth plus DUII conviction.
Another issue. “There is little if any oversight by an independent agency.” Wrong again. The program has been studied by evaluators and continues to be so. I don’t believe that Catherine is in a position to have known this, among other things.
Regarding the polygraph tests. Yes, all probationers take polygraph tests. This is used as a tool but is not the sole determining factor for compliance checks. Moreover, a probationer will not face sanctions solely due to them not passing a polygraph test. Catherine stated other “limits on their civil right.” She gave as an example potential searches of their homes and property and random UAs. This is not something made up by the DISP probation. Check just about any other type of probation and you will see the same thing. All treatment programs include random UAs.
Catherine stated that when a person is convicted of more than one DUII in the state of Oregon they will be offered three months jail time, license suspension, and fines. In actuality, a DUII conviction would be a year in jail. That goes up with more convictions and counts. With regards to the fines and fees, this is all included in the DISP handbook which is given to every participant in the program. It is not a hidden factor. Whether the probationer chooses to read the information given them is an entirely different thing.
Unfortunately, Catherine’s view is a very limited and uninformed one. The DISP program uses evidence based practices, has continued training for the case managers, works closely with health care and treatment professionals, and has statistical evidence showing the positive outcomes that it has on its probationers. I don’t know the extent that Catherine has had contact with the program (I’m assuming that it really hasn’t been that much), but I don’t believe she is in a position to judge whether or not the officials running the program have a clue about recovery from alcoholism. She doesn’t even have the facts straight about what the program requirements are.
DISP Way Over Board
posted by CJ on 29 Jan 2009 at 7:42 pmLike the previous poster, this program is totalitarian. It sets a person up for failure. The cost alone for all the testing is ruinous. First off is the stigma of being in the program then having to commit to total honesty in applying for jobs if they without one. It's an automatic "we'll let you know" and then no call back. The person in this program is already very tentative and frightened. They usually have another disorder that could be either physical or mental. The mental health portion of the program is ridiculous! Literally the case of the blind leading the blind. Qualifications are literally non existent and the help facilities often fail due to mis management. The judges are burn out cases that seem to fall down to this level themselves and are so maniacal that the judgements handed down are like from the hand of God.
I could say more but the point is made. The county has abrogated their responsibilities to the private sector and is creating further failure.
Disp Needs To Be Less Rigid
posted by Michael on 18 Mar 2009 at 3:26 pmFirst of all Disp DOES Not disclose all of the monetary costs up front in the handbook. Simply not true. I am in disp and I have never had a positive UA and I still get a "random" UA averages out to be every 3 weeks- simply ridiculous. These people think 40 bucks here and 40 there is no big deal but they have no clue. Other fees and volunteer work are not mentioned in the handbook. Thank goodness I have a good case manager or I would really be sick about these endless fees.
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