Comparison of Sassi-2 classification outcomes and blood alcohol concentration in driving under the influence suspects.

Abstract

With so much focus on drunk driving, evaluation of drunk driving offenders is an important issue. This study centered on the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-2 (SASSI-2), a widely used and readily accepted instrument for screening drunk drivers. For this study, comparisons were made between drivers with low (.08 to. I49) blood alcohol concentrations and drivers with high (.150 to .300) blood alcohol concentrations. Drivers chosen for this study were only those who were first time offenders, individuals who had not been given the SASS]-2 prior to this assessment, and who had agreed to a blood alcohol concentration (SAC) measure at the time of their arrest. Fifty-eight participants who fit this category were found, with 28 participants in each group. Each had been court referred to a mental health center to complete a comprehensive alcohol and drug evaluation in 1996. Chi square analysis of the data revealed that the SASSI-2 was unable, with any degree of significance, to categorize drivers as chemically dependent whose high blood alcohol concentrations indicated a high degree of tolerance to alcohol. Results of an analysis of variance on the data indicated no significant differences in scores overall or with any of the eight scales of the SASSI-2 when groups were compared by BAC or by SASSI-2 classification of chemically dependent or non chemically dependent. The exception to this was a difference in the self-report scales; individuals classified as chemically dependent scored slightly higher on these two scales (Face Valid Alcohol and Face Valid Other Drugs). Additional research was suggested with the court referred population using blood alcohol concentrations as an indicator of alcohol abuse or dependence.