Self-governance, control and loss of control among drink-drivers

TY - JOUR

T1 - Self-governance, control and loss of control among drink-drivers

AU - Järvinen, Margaretha

AU - Fynbo, Lars

PY - 2011/11

Y1 - 2011/11

N2 - This paper analyses driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs (DUI) from a governmentality perspective. The paper is based on qualitative interviews with 25 persons, convicted of drink-driving and at the time of the interviews participating in Alcohol/Traffic courses in Denmark (mandatory courses for DUI-convicted people). Four drink-driver profiles are identified: regular heavy drinkers who regard themselves as addicted; regular drinkers who claim they are in control of both their alcohol use and their drink-driving; occasional multi-substance users who associate their DUI with strong feelings of control loss; and occasional drinkers or drug users with limited experience of drink-driving. The paper analyses drink-driving as a form of " failed self-governance" and shows how some of the convicted drink-drivers negotiate quilt and blame by either justifying their DUI (they were " in full control" and hence did not risk other people's lives) or excusing it (they had " lost control" over their alcohol and/or drug intake and therefore did not engage in DUI of their own free will).

AB - This paper analyses driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs (DUI) from a governmentality perspective. The paper is based on qualitative interviews with 25 persons, convicted of drink-driving and at the time of the interviews participating in Alcohol/Traffic courses in Denmark (mandatory courses for DUI-convicted people). Four drink-driver profiles are identified: regular heavy drinkers who regard themselves as addicted; regular drinkers who claim they are in control of both their alcohol use and their drink-driving; occasional multi-substance users who associate their DUI with strong feelings of control loss; and occasional drinkers or drug users with limited experience of drink-driving. The paper analyses drink-driving as a form of " failed self-governance" and shows how some of the convicted drink-drivers negotiate quilt and blame by either justifying their DUI (they were " in full control" and hence did not risk other people's lives) or excusing it (they had " lost control" over their alcohol and/or drug intake and therefore did not engage in DUI of their own free will).

U2 - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2011.08.001

DO - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2011.08.001

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22000600

SN - 0955-3959

VL - 22

SP - 437

EP - 444

JO - International Journal of Drug Policy

JF - International Journal of Drug Policy

IS - 6

ER -