Sadly, the simple truth is that millions of people choose to drive an automobile while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol. Doing so not merely puts one's life in danger and puts passengers and others at risk as well, but being caught driving drunk (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) will more often than not result in severe penalties including driver's license suspension or cancellation, fines as well as jail time. In many cases a person who has been found guilty of DUI or DWI ultimately has an underlying substance abuse issue. The court system knows this, and it is therefore inclined to offer DUI and DWI Offenders drug and alcohol treatment rather than other extreme consequences for his or her crime. Agreeing or obliging to participate in drug and alcohol rehab as a DUI/DWI Offender might not completely eliminate other penalties from the crime, but tends to decrease the severity of such penalties to a large degree. Specifically if the person willingly participates in drug rehab and is also a first-time offender. Studies show that a lot of individuals who do receive drug and alcohol rehabilitation because of a DUI/DWI offense avoid the courts for comparable charges down the road.