Sadly, the simple truth is that tens of millions of people actually choose to drive an automobile while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs. Doing this not merely puts one's life in danger and puts passengers and others in danger as well, but being caught driving while impaired (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) will almost always bring about serious penalties including driver's license suspension or cancellation, monetary penalties as well as prison time. Sometimes anyone who has been found guilty of DUI or DWI ultimately has an underlying substance abuse problem. The court system knows 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 take part in drug and alcohol rehabilitation as a DUI/DWI Offender might not exactly completely eliminate other penalties of the crime, but tends to decrease the severity of such penalties to some large degree. Specifically if the individual willingly takes part in drug rehab and is a first time offender. Research has shown that a lot of those who do receive drug rehab because of a DUI/DWI offense avoid the courts for similar charges down the road.