Examining Factors in the Research Institute on Addictions Self-Inventory (RIASI): Associations with Alcohol Use and Problems at Assessment and Follow-Up

Abstract

Impaired driving is a leading cause of alcohol-related deaths and injuries. Rehabilitation or remedial programs, involving assessment and screening of convicted impaired drivers to determine problem severity and appropriate programs, are an important component of society’s response to this problem. Ontario’s remedial program, Back on Track (BOT), involves an assessment process that includes administration of the Research Institute on Addictions Self-Inventory (RIASI) to determine assignment to an education or treatment program. The purpose of this study is to identify factors within the RIASI and examine how factor scores are associated with alcohol use and problem indicators at assessment and six-month follow-up. The sample included 22,298 individuals who completed BOT from 2000 to 2005. Principal component factor analysis with varimax rotation was conducted on RIASI data and an eight factor solution was retained: (1) Negative Affect, (2) Sensation Seeking, (3) Alcohol-Quantity, (4) Social Conformity, (5) High Risk Lifestyle, (6) Alcohol Problems, (7) Interpersonal Competence, and (8) Family History. Regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between factors and alcohol and problem measures obtained at assessment and at follow-up. Most factors, except for Interpersonal Competence, were associated with more alcohol use and problems at assessment. A similar pattern was observed at 6-month follow-up, but interestingly some factors (Negative Affect, Sensation Seeking, Alcohol-Quantity and Family History) predicted fewer days of alcohol use. The Interpersonal Competence factor was associated with significantly lower levels of alcohol use and problems at both assessment and follow-up. This work suggests that the RIASI provides information on several domains that have important relationships with alcohol problem severity and outcomes.

Characteristics and predictors of recidivist drink-drivers

“…The RIASI generates two scores, a total score (RIASI-T) based on the full instrument, and the recidivism score (RIASI-R). Eight factors have been identified within the RIASI, reflecting problem areas associated with alcohol use (Mann et al 2009). In addition, several other measures are collected at assessment, including the Adverse Consequences of Substance Use Scale (ACSUS; Mann et al 2006), measures of substance use in the previous 90 days, contacts with health (including addictions-related) and corrections services in the previous 90 days, and various demographic measures (e.g., age, gender).…”

Criminal Justice and Public Health Policies to Reduce the Negative Impacts of DUI

“…No one approach to screening or triaging first DUI offenders can be recommended to guide a specific policy, although Dugosh et al () identified several addiction items and primarily criminal justice factors that could be predictive of need for treatment to reduce recidivism. Other research (Mann et al., ; Shuggi, Mann, Zalcman, Chipperfield, and Nochajski, ; Wanberg et al., ) has shown that screening approaches such as the Research Institute on Addiction Screening Instrument have the potential to guide the triaging of DUI offenders. Despite this research, no screening or triaging protocol is currently available or suitable (in terms of predictive validity and alignment with state‐level laws and regulations) for use in most jurisdictions.…”

Evidence from regression‐discontinuity analyses for beneficial effects of a criterion‐based increase in alcohol treatment

“…The assessment includes the Research Institute on Addictions Self-inventory (RIASI; Mann et al, 2009;Nochajski et al, 1995), an addictions screening instrument that was designed specifically for use with convicted drinking drivers. The RIASI is a 52-item instrument that measures distal (hostility/aggression, sensation seeking, depression, anxiety, interpersonal competence, childhood risk factors, social problems such as criminal history, health issues) and proximal factors (current drinking habits, pre-occupation with alcohol, alcohol beliefs, use of alcohol to alleviate problems, and family history) associated with alcohol or drug problems.…”