More recent studies, however, have found evidence of greater severity of alcohol dependence and psychiatric comorbidity among female than male repeat DUI offenders. While female first-time offenders have lower rates of alcohol dependence than males (Lapham et al., 2001), higher rates of dependence have been found among female than male recidivists (Lapham et al., 2006; Laplante et al., 2008). In a treatment program to reduce DUI recidivism, more women (72%) than men (50%) met lifetime criteria for alcohol dependence and non-substance psychiatric disorders (80% versus 65%), both significant gender differences (Lapham et al., 2006). In addition, 69% of women and 71% of men had abused or been dependent on at least one illicit drug (Lapham et al., 2006). A recent study of repeat DUI offenders who selected a treatment program in lieu of incarceration found a greater prevalence of alcohol dependence and non-substance psychiatric lifetime comorbidity among women than men (Laplante et al., 2008). The high rates of disorder among individuals with histories of one or more DUIs suggest that samples selected for histories of DUI are well suited to
