| It is slowly being recognized that | | | | foster a healthier and safer life for |
| addiction to alcohol is a disease and | | | | the participants and their families by |
| not a choice. Alcohol addiction causes | | | | increasing treatment, supervision and |
| damage to health. The economic losses | | | | accountability of the high risk impaired |
| due to treatment of diseases are | | | | driver. |
| enormous. Furthermore, the social | | | | The process begins with the admission of |
| damages relate to alcohol-related abuse | | | | the guilt. The criteria for admission |
| and driving under the influence. | | | | are the participants should be resident |
| Lobbyists for harsher laws for DUI argue | | | | of Orange County, have the ability to |
| that stricter punishments and penalties | | | | travel to Newport Beach for court and |
| have reduced the number of DUI arrests. | | | | Santa Ana for treatment and supervision. |
| But a number of studies show that | | | | The program is modeled after a similar |
| judicial actions combined with alcohol | | | | program for drug abuse. The success of |
| treatment decrease recidivism, the | | | | the program depends on the effect it has |
| tendency to return to alcoholism. These | | | | on the DUI incidents. |
| studies imply that harsher laws only | | | | Alcohol treatment involves medical |
| increase the tendency to drink more. For | | | | treatment, counseling sessions, |
| instance, the first thing an alcohol | | | | monitoring and supervision of the |
| addict would do after release from jail | | | | participants. Without medical treatment, |
| sentence is to go to the first bar that | | | | the programs of AA instill a sense of |
| he or she comes across. | | | | confidence to say no to alcohol. Hence |
| In order to reduce recidivism, a pilot | | | | extended participation in AA is a strong |
| program has been started at the Orange | | | | measure to reduce recidivism. |
| County Superior Court Harbor Justice | | | | Furthermore, the mandatory formal |
| Center. It is one of two such programs | | | | probation does have an effect on DUI |
| in the US. The mission is to reduce | | | | behavior. |
| recidivism, enhance community safety and | | | | |