© 2005 Behavioral Health Research Institute of the Southwest
612 Encino Place NE / Albuquerque, NM 87102 / 505.244.3099 / www.bhrcs.org

Drinking, Driving, and Drugs:
A Comparative Study of Juvenile Substance Abuse Offenders
in Bernalillo County, NM
By Nancy Owen Lewis, Ph.D. and Iyiin Chang, M.S.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Driving while intoxicated (DWI), a serious problem among New Mexico youth, has been described as part of a generalized risk syndrome that often includes alcohol and drug abuse (Donovan 1993; Beck and Lockhart 1992). To better understand underage drunk driving, this study examined the characteristics of 1,518 substance abuse offenders referred to the Juvenile Probation and Parole Office (AJPPO) in Albuquerque, NM, between July 1994 and June 1995. DWI offenders (N=118) were compared with drug (N=869) and other alcohol offenders (N=531) in terms of demographic characteristics, offense history, and recidivism. Incident date and referral circumstances were examined, and the response by the juvenile justice system was evaluated. Recidivism was monitored through June 1997 or until the offender reached age 18, which ever came first. Analyses were conducted to determine factors predictive of recidivism.

The results revealed that most DWI, alcohol, and drug offenders were male, Hispanic, and in the 16-17 age bracket. The majority lived in single parent households and nearly one-third were not enrolled in school. Compared to the population of Bernalillo County, males, Hispanics, and residence in single-parent households were over-represented in the study population. Nearly 58% of offenders had at least one referral prior to the study period, property offenses being the most common violation. Offenders with prior referrals were at greater risk for recidivism than first offenders. In fact, nearly 57% had recidivated at least once, the most common violation being "other offenses" (i.e., traffic, curfew, miscellaneous). Other risk factors for recidivism included male gender, non-Anglo ethnicity, dropping out of school, and residence with a single parent. Most referrals were made by law enforcement and involved at least two offenses.

The study revealed several significant differences between DWI offenders and the other two groups. Compared to those two groups, the DWI population was older, included a higher percentage of Native Americans, and had a higher percentage of high school dropouts. DWI cases not only averaged more offenses per referral, but a higher percentage of those offenses involved a substance abuse violation. Compared to the other two groups, a higher percentage of DWI offenders were referred to the AJPPO by law enforcement and a significantly smaller percentage were referred within one month after the incident. Motor vehicle records revealed that 33% of DWI arrests involved a crash. The average blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for all offenders was .11. For those involved in a crash, the average BAC was .13.

Unlike the other two groups, most DWI cases resulted in a formal disposition. The most common formal disposition was the Consent Decree, in which the parties involved agreed the charges would be dismissed provided the offender comply with certain conditions for a six-month period. These terms usually included a referral to one or more programs, the most common being alcohol and drug education, restitution, counseling, and community service. Although few juvenile DWI cases (18.9%) actually resulted in convictions, most offenders were required to complete a series of requirements before the charges were dismissed. Of the three groups, alcohol offenders received the fewest sanctions. They were the least likely to be processed formally. Of the 26.2% that were handled formally, a higher percentage resulted in Nolle Prosequi and dismissals than was the case with the other two groups.

Evidence suggests that youth are more likely to be apprehended for a drug violation than for a DWI or alcohol offense. During the past four years, referrals to the AJPPO for drug offenses have more than doubled. In contrast, DWI referrals increased by only 16%, while alcohol referrals actually declined 3%. Schools are more likely to refer a student for a drug violation than for an alcohol offense. Although reported drug use has increased in recent years, statewide school surveys reveal that a higher percentage of students use alcohol than drugs (NM Dept. of Health 1997).

To impact underage DWI, it is important that substance abuse be addressed among alcohol and drug offenders, as well. As this study has shown, a close relationship exists among the three offender types. Twenty-six percent of DWI arrests included at least one additional substance abuse offense, and nearly 35% had a prior alcohol or drug referral. To reduce underage DWI, the following recommendations are made.

1. Enforce underage drinking laws.
2. Treat alcohol offenders seriously and impose appropriate sanctions.
   
   Screen substance abuse offenders, including first offenders, for substance abuse and psychosocial problems.
   
   Refer substance abuse offenders to counseling, educational or other programs that address the problems revealed in the screening.
   
   Use programs that are sensitive to gender, ethnicity, and family issues, including the special needs of single parent households.
   
   Track program participation and sentence compliance through a centralized computer system and impose consequences for failure to comply.
   
   Conduct recidivism studies to evaluate program effectiveness and use the results to design new programs or to improve existing ones, as needed.