Reducing Driving Offenses of Adolescent Drinkers

A Randomized Control Trial of the Effectiveness of of Group Motivational Counseling and an Emergency Department Experience in Reducing Risky Alcohol Use and Driving Behaviors.

To determine the effectiveness of four group session of motivational counseling plus six hours of direct observations of the emergency department trauma services in comparison to four group session and six hours of community volunteering and also in comparison to four hours of education and 16 hours of community volunteering in reducing alcohol use and high risk driving behaviors and offenses among court referred 16-20 year old drivers.

Age 16-20 years:

• Court referral for driving conviction and/or possession of alcohol
• Offense committed in Rhode Island
• Can speak English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age over 20 years
• Not English speaking
• Not referred by courts