Offenders in both groups share some common personal characteristics. Each offender has a substance abuse problem that is taking control of his or her life. Each requires comprehensive treatment, a strong support system, and the ability to come to terms with his or her problem before real change can occur. The personal characteristics typical of the two classes of offender differ in some ways. DUI offenders tend to be employed, and to have emotional resources that are helpful to recovery, such as family, education, or religion.
Drug offenders are often out of work and unable to support themselves.
With the exception of social assistance, they have little in the way of financial or emotional support. Drug offenders ingest an illegal substance, and have few illusions about the side of the law on which they stand. In fact, while the DUI arrest rates for all age groups have declined in recent years, the declines for persons aged 35-44 are much smaller than those for other groups. For instance, from 1990 to 1996 DUI arrest rates declined 23.5 percent for drivers at age 23 and 18.5 percent for driver's age 50 or older. Finally, DUI offender are often in a state of denial about their substance abuse.