Stress and drinking to cope in recidivist DUI offenders

Individuals convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) have a 1 in 3 likelihood of re-offending. This high recidivism rate has prompted efforts to identify characteristics of recidivist offenders in order to tailor appropriate interventions to prevent repeat offenses. DUI offenders report elevated levels of stress and anxiety which could motivate alcohol use to reduce stress, adding to their perceived reward value of the drug. The present study examined the degree to which recidivist DUI offenders report stress-reduction as a primary motivation to drink (i.e., drinking to cope).

Source: Alcohol - May 1, 2017 Category: Addiction Authors: Mark T. Fillmore Source Type: research