Effective treatment is the third essential component to combat hardcore drunk driving. Most hardcore drunk drivers have a variety of serious problems, ranging from substance abuse or addiction to violent behavior patterns. Many won't be affected by a solitary driving-related sanction, such as license revocation. Treatment for substance abuse and related problems, along with aftercare, provides a chance for them to address their problems with professional help and guidance. When combined with identification and sanctions, treatment is critical because it helps keep the hardcore drunk driver from repeating the behavior, thereby protecting him or her and also protecting the public.

When addressing treatment of hardcore drunk drivers, the pivotal question is: What most effectively will keep them from repeatedly driving while drunk?

There is no one right answer. Although there are numerous alcohol treatment programs, the number dwindles dramatically when broken down further to treatment programs for the hardcore drunk driver. A great many studies have been done on alcoholism treatment in general, but only a limited number address hardcore offenders.

It has been estimated 30 to 75 percent of DWI offenders have serious alcohol problems (Simpson et al. 1996). A 2001 survey found 85 percent of female and 91 percent of male offenders in a New Mexico screening program had a life-long alcohol use disorder (Lapham 2001). The survey also found drunk driving offenders need assessment and treatment not only for alcohol problems but also for drug use and psychiatric disorders. A study done by Siegal confirms that the lifetime and current rates of psychiatric disorders for hardcore offenders is much higher than what is found in the general population (2000). Overall, 69 percent of the inmates in Siegal’s study experienced a psychiatric disorder at some point in their lives.

Because so many of the hardcore drunk drivers are alcohol dependent, treatment and rehabilitation programs should be an essential part of any strategy to combat the problem. Estimates of treatment referral rates in most states range from well over 60 percent for first-time offenders to over 90 percent for multiple offenders (Kuhl 1997).

While many hardcore drunk drivers are alcohol dependent, others are not. Currently, a handful of states offer intensive education programs targeting the non-addicted multiple offender. These programs are sometimes used in conjunction with treatment, but because education programs are not aimed at those who are alcohol dependent, they are not intended as a replacement for treatment.

This section provides an overview of the different components of DWI treatment, highlights research findings and describes DWI correctional/treatment programs for hardcore drunk drivers. As a first step in the treatment process, the topic of assessment is introduced and discussed. Assessment may occur at several stages in the swift identification, certain punishment and effective treatment process, including at court prior to sentencing and upon intake at a treatment facility.