Five years after the screening referral we conducted a follow-up study of offenders referred between 1989 and 1992. We selected 2615 subjects for the 5-year follow-up study (Figure 1 shows the Study Flow Diagram). Of these subjects, 56 were deceased and 1396 were interviewed. An analysis comparing groups by whether or not they were located, interviewed, or refused (direct versus indirect refusals) found that several factors including younger age, Mexican National ethnicity, screening compliance, and having an outstanding arrest warrant predicted both inability to locate and type of refusal.25 Hispanic ethnicity and having a telephone predicted better success with locating subjects. Among those who refused to be interviewed, Non-Hispanic whites were more likely than other ethnic groups to refuse directly, and those with outstanding warrants were more likely to refuse indirectly. Noncompliance with the screening program was also associated with differential follow-up rates. Neither arrest breath alcohol levels nor alcohol diagnoses were associated with differential rates of follow-up. Therefore, alcohol diagnosis did not appear to influence successful follow-up in this criminal justice population. The 5-year follow-up interviews included demographic and self-report information regarding personal, social, drinking and driving histories, and treatment services received in the 5 years following screening.
