Why drink drivers keep driving drunk - My opportunity to share a hypothesis

I've worked as an addictions counsellor for the last ten years. During the course of my work I've had the experience of working with hundreds of repeat drink drivers across New Zealand.

There are a few hypothesis I now have as to why repeat drink driving occurs for any given individual and ways of changing this behavior.

I recently submitted an abstract to Cutting Edge, the National Addiction Workforce Conference, and have been invited to talk to the delegates and share what I've learnt while working with the repeat drink driver demographic.

My hope is that I can stimulate further investigation as to the best ways of treating this behaviour to make New Zealand's roads safer for all.

I'm now seeking funding to cover my costs of travel, accommodation and conference registration.

Here is the full abstract I submitted to give you a better idea of what I will be presenting on:

Having had the experience of working with hundreds of repeat drink drivers across New Zealand from Huntly to Greymouth, there are a few hypothesis I now have as to why repeat drink driving occurs for any given individual and ways of changing this behavior.

It involves the brain’s reward system, operant conditioning and the possibility that drink driving is in itself an addictive behavior with parallels to gambling.

It involves re-assessing what ones primary values in life are and re-establishing connections to these. Whanau, family, children, employment, independence are always identified as core values from every drink driving group I’ve worked with across the country. Yes even those “bloody idiots” (as the billboard once said) share the same kiwi values as you and I. It may be that strengthening connection and importance to these values is what helps keep all of us safer on the roads.