The Effectiveness of Alcohol Monitoring As a Treatment for Driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) Offenders: A Literature Review and Synthesis

Objective: The advent of continuous, passive, transdermal alcohol-monitoring devices and portable breath-testing devices with cameras provides a more efficient and reliable method for controlling the impaired driving of driving-under-the-influence (DUI) offenders. The objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive literature review and synthesis of the strategies, the obstacles and the effectiveness of implementing alcohol monitoring as a component of treatment for DUI offenders.

Method: A formalized review of the existing literature was conducted including both peer-reviewed and gray literature resources. Professional association websites were also searched in an effort to seek information on the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of alcohol monitoring as a strategy to treat DUI offenders. The review was guided by pre-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria that identified the scope and key terms to use when searching.

Results: The literature shows that there is promising to strong evidence that alcohol monitoring is an effective component in treating DUI offenders and reducing recidivism rates. Alcohol ignition interlocks had the most studies (71 of the 131 articles identified in this review) and research shows that recidivism rates can be reduced by 50 to 90 percent for offenders while the interlock is installed. However, most ignition interlock studies are subject to sampling issues where participants are not randomly assigned to experimental and comparison groups. There is also evidence that alcohol monitoring is a key measure in 24/7 Sobriety Programs, in enforcing abstinence, and in overall alcohol treatment programs.

Conclusions: Transdermal monitoring is generally effective in deterring offenders from drinking alcohol. Offenders who drink or are otherwise noncompliant are likely to be identified. Transdermal monitoring helps enforce abstinence, which in turn helps offenders quit drinking and go into a recovery stage, potentially creating long-term safety benefits for the community. Continuous transdermal monitoring is a more effective means of monitoring drinking than other techniques and technologies (e.g., self-report, periodic or random breath tests, patches, or urinalysis).