Sadly, it's true that tens of millions of people actually choose to drive an automobile while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Doing this not just puts one's life at risk and puts passengers among others at risk at the same time, but being caught driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) will more often than not result in severe penalties including driver's license suspension or cancellation, fines and also prison time. In many cases somebody who has been found guilty of DUI or DWI ultimately has an underlying drug abuse issue. A legal court system understands this, and it is therefore inclined to offer DUI and DWI Offenders drug treatment as an alternative to other extreme penalties for crime. Agreeing or obliging to participate in drug and alcohol treatment as a DUI/DWI Offender may not completely eradicate other penalties of the crime, but sometimes decrease the degree of such penalties to a great extent. Particularly if the person willingly participates drug treatment and is a first-time offender. Research indicates that a large percentage of people who do receive alcohol and drug rehab because of a DUI/DWI offense stay out of the court system for similar charges down the road.