The DUI Education program at Positive Steps is designed for individuals charged with or convicted of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). This program specifically caters to first-time offenders whose only issue related to alcohol or drug use is impaired driving. It aims to increase awareness of clients’ alcohol use patterns, promote healthy decision-making to prevent repeat offenses, and encourage responsible behavior towards others and the community. The program uses informative and interactive educational approaches to foster responsible living and behavioral change.
Goals and Objectives
- Prevent Recidivism: Ensure participants do not return to driving under the influence of alcohol or other mind-altering drugs.
- Awareness: Help clients understand the impact of their past impaired driving and the significance of their current charge and conviction.
- Behavioral Change: Assist clients in altering thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes about alcohol and drug use to prevent future impaired driving.
- Education: Inform clients about the effects of alcohol and drugs on the mind, body, and social behaviors, as well as the legal consequences of impaired driving.
- Self-Assessment: Enable clients to accurately assess their own alcohol and drug use patterns.
- Family Influence: Educate clients on the influence of family members’ substance abuse and the roles within an addicted family.
- Treatment Resources: Provide information on available treatment resources and expose clients to 12 Step support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous.
- Legal Obligations: Clarify clients’ legal obligations related to the DUI charge and the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) requirements in Maryland.
- Commitment to Zero Tolerance: Encourage clients to adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards driving after consuming alcohol or other drugs.
Program Details
Course Structure
- Session 1: Introduction to the drinking and driving problem, pre-test, personal stories, history of DUI, costs of drinking and driving, Maryland laws.
- Session 2: Physiological effects of alcohol, BAC levels, legal penalties.
- Session 3: Decision-making, thoughts and feelings about drinking and driving, family and peer influences.
- Session 4: Understanding alcohol abuse and dependence, disease model, symptoms and stages of use.
- Session 5: Impact of alcoholism on the family, family roles, resources.
- Session 6: Treatment resources, relapse and recidivism prevention, program review, post-test, feedback.
Participant Expectations
Active participation in group discussions and completion of worksheets and homework assignments.
Completion Requirements
Achieve a passing score of at least 75% on the post-test.
Program Duration
- Intake and Exit Interviews: Initial intake and final exit interview.
- Education Sessions: Six sessions, each lasting 2 hours, totaling 12 hours of education.
