Driving under the influence as a turning point? A register-based study on financial and social consequences among first-time male offenders Atte Oksanen 1 , Mikko Aaltonen 2 & Janne Kivivuori 2 School of Social Sciences and Humanities, University ofTampere, Tampere, Finland 1 and National Research Institute of Legal Policy, Helsinki, Finland 2 ABSTRACT Aims To examine gradual change in debt problems, divorce and income among men in Finland before and after a first conviction for driving under the influence (DUI). Design and Setting A register-based longitudinal study conducted in Finland between 1999 and 2013. Participants A nationally representative sample of 70 659 Finnish males born between 1918 and 1983, and a subsample of males (n = 1782) who had their first DUI conviction during 2005–2012. Measurements Descriptive statistics showing the socio-demographic and economic determinants of DUI. The main analysis was based on a longitudinal, within-individual setting. The impact of DUI on debt problems, divorce and income was analysed using random effects regression models. Findings DUI offenders were more likely to be younger and to have lower education and income than the non-DUI group. Criminal convictions were also more common among DUI offenders. Debt problems, divorce and loss of income were more likely after the DUI incident than before. The already increasing level of debt problems accelerated after the incident and divorce rates increased after the DUI incident, whereas the decrease in income was gradual over the whole observation period. Conclusions Among men in Finland, DUI offences are more common among vulnerable social groups. The first drunk-driving conviction among men in Finland constitutes a significant life event that appears to increase the likelihood of financial problems and divorce. Keywords Crime, divorce, driving under the influence (DUI), financial problems, income, life events, longitudinal study, register-based analysis. Correspondence to: Atte Oksanen, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Tampere, Social Psychology, Tampere 33014, Finland. E-mail: atte.oksanen@uta.fi Submitted 1 July 2014; initial review completed 21 August 2014; final version accepted 15 October 2014 INTRODUCTION Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) has been recognized as harmful not only for others but for the offenders themselves: DUI offenders have higher mortal- ity rates [1–3], are likely to belong to more vulnerable social groups and have higher divorce rates [4–7]. They are also more likely to have other criminal convictions [8–10] and their re-arrest rates are high [6,11–13]. Drunk driving has also been associated with psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorder [14]. For these reasons, many countries offer rehabilitation pro- grammes for DUI offenders [6,15,16]. Although first-time offenders are likely to have driven drunk before being caught for the first time [8], their conviction marks a point when their potential alcohol or drug problems become a legal issue. A Finnish longitudi- nal study showed that a DUI arrest is linked to an increased risk of social disadvantage. This study also showed that some individuals were more likely to improve their social status, which may mean that a DUI convic- tion served as a ‘wake-up call’ [2]. Being apprehended for the first time while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) is regarded here as a possible turning point during an individual’s life-course that may have positive as well as negative con- sequences. The theoretical literature concerning alcohol and drug problems has suggested the importance of life events. These theories consider the development of alcohol and drug problems as a process, indicating that society might seek to understand the gradual changes in consumption habits [17–20]. Different social, financial RESEARCH REPORT doi:10.1111/add.12777 © 2014 Society for the Study of Addiction Addiction