Examining the role of trauma in alcohol interlock performance: A structural pathway analysis

Abstract

Objective

Self-medication using alcohol is a common coping response among individuals dealing with trauma as is driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). A common intervention for drivers convicted of DUI, is an alcohol ignition interlock device (IID)—which requires breath samples before starting the car. If the sample is above a predetermined limit (.025), the car will not start, thus preventing impaired driving. IIDs are an effective intervention to reduce rates of drinking and driving among high risk populations; however, limited research has examined how traumatic experiences may impact performance on IIDs.

Methods

This study is an archival analysis of the Managing Heavy Drinking (MHD) study of drivers in New York state. The MHD is a comprehensive study of drivers convicted of a DUI from 2015–2020. Participants (N = 121) completed questionnaires and provided consent to retrieve information from interlock providers. Outcome variable included high BAC lockout ratios (number of high BAC lockouts [BAC>.08]/number of clean blows [BAC ≤ .025]). Other variables included demographic variables, alcohol treatment history, trauma experiences, and prior DUI history. Variables were entered into a structural equation model.

Results

In the final structural model, pathways that demonstrated a p-value of greater than .10 were dropped from the model. This produced acceptable overall model fit statistics (χ2 = 27.059(10), p=.003; CFI = .900; NFI = .898; RMSEA = .063). A significant pathway was found from the trauma measure to alcohol use (β = .132), and from alcohol use to interlock performance (β = .636). However, no significant relationship was found between trauma and interlock performance other than through alcohol use.

Conclusions

The current study provides a useful framework upon which to understand the role traumatic experiences have on alcohol IID performance. Traumatic experiences are in of themselves insufficient to impact IID performance directly, but it may indirectly impact IID performance through increasing alcohol use.

Keywords:

• Trauma
• interlock
• alcohol use
• AUDIT

Acknowledgments

Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the NIH.

Additional information

Funding

The research and preparation of this paper were conducted under a grant from the NIAAA (Grant ID# R01 AA022312).