LEVERAGING TRANSDERMAL ALCOHOL MONITORING TO REDUCE DRINKING AMONG DWI DEFENDANTS

This renewal extends our work during the last award period and seeks to translate these findings to thecriminal justice system. Our accomplishments include: (a) developing methods for processing transdermalalcohol concentration data that yield clinically-meaningful quantification of drinking; (b) demonstratingcontingency management can be successfully implemented using transdermal alcohol monitors and thatcontingency management can produce sustained reductions in heavy drinking in non-treatment-seekingproblematic drinkers; and (c) establishing collaborations within the judicial system. Specifically, we propose toimplement this contingency management program as an adjunctive intervention for driving while intoxicated(DWI) offenders who are mandated to transdermal alcohol monitoring and the majority of whom continue tomisuse alcohol despite court prohibition while awaiting trial (pretrial period). Contingency Management andControl groups will experience 8-weeks of intervention (or sham) and 12-months follow-up for alcohol use.During the course of the study, we will examine how constructs from the Theory of Planned Behavior relate toobserved drinking outcomes. Our primary aims are: to determine whether contingency management reducesdrinking among DWI offenders court-ordered to undergo transdermal alcohol monitoring; to evaluate the extentto which reductions in drinking among DWI offenders assigned to the Contingency Management group aresustained during follow-up; how outcomes relate to constructs identified in the Theory of Planned Behavior(Attitudes, Social Norms, Behavioral Control and Intentions); and determine the costs, benefits, and netbenefits of this program on the criminal justice system. The results of this study will inform the eventualintegration of contingency management into traditional judicial approaches. Lastly, exploratory analyses will:(a) examine how study participation relates to outcomes tracked by the criminal justice system; and (b) test forimpact of psychiatric or other substance use comorbidity; and (c) characterize the impact of alcohol use onparticipants' lives.