ASSESSING ALCOHOL-PROBLEMS IN FEMALE DWI OFFENDERS

The severity of alcohol problems in a sample of 812 women driving whil e intoxicated (DWI) offenders enrolled in a Drinking Driver Program in New York State was assessed through the use of multiple measures. The se women voluntarily provided information through a self-administered questionnaire completed at the beginning of the program. Classificatio n of alcohol problems based on DSM-III-R criteria was compared with cl assification based on the use of alcohol-specific and nonalcohol-speci fic measures of alcohol-related problems. Greater hostility and a larg er number of drinks ever consumed accounted for nearly 12% of the vari ance between no diagnosis and alcohol abuse women, whereas these two v ariables plus age, race, depression, and having a relative with alcoho l problems accounted for nearly 41% of the variance between alcohol ab use and dependent women. A subsample of women within each DSM-III-R di agnostic group showed high risk for later, more severe alcohol problem s. Multiple measures of alcohol problems help to elucidate subtle diff erences in alcohol problems within each of the broad categories specif ied by the DSM, and should facilitate more appropriate intervention an d treatment plans for women DWI offenders with alcohol-related problem s.