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Driving under the Influence – a holiday reminder | |||||
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December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. We can all use a reminder around the holidays when it comes to dangers of drinking and driving. It is said that impaired driving will affect one in three Americans during our lifetime. This is a major concern for health and safety. Understanding the current condition: Alcohol is a major cause of preventable deaths, and yet approximately 16,694 people in 2004 died in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. according to the NHTSA. This represents an average of one alcohol-related fatality every 31-minutes. Drugs other than alcohol such as marijuana and cocaine, are involved in about 18% of motor vehicle driver deaths and are generally used in combination with alcohol. Out of 1,159 traffic fatalities in Michigan last year, 430 (37%) were alcohol-related. These statistics might seem like just numbers to you - but not to healthcare workers. Emergency Rooms across the country know the horrible outcomes drunk and drugged driving can do. Major injury and death can happen within seconds of an accident and with an average of five months a year in Big Rapids being effected by snow (not mentioning other weather conditions like fog or rain), drunk drivers are just asking for trouble! If you want to think about how children are affected, you should know that 21% of child passengers ages 14 and younger were killed in motor crashes involving alcohol last year. Take Action: Accidents can be prevented if we take responsibility for our actions. It's as simple a decision as mowing the lawn with shoes on, eating food that is not spoiled, remembering an appointment by keeping a calendar.  |
Planning for transportation before you drink is also very important - because after an impairing substance enters our body, our judgment is not accurate. Understanding Effects: It is estimated that as many as 1 in 6 adults in the United States may have a problem with drinking. Excessive alcohol intake strains personal relationships and may affect one's ability to hold a job. In addition, excessive alcohol intake may result in serious health problems, including damage to the liver and brain. Addiction problems can be especially problematic during the holidays. Celebrations and gatherings that include alcohol are increased, stress levels can be raised, and loneliness and depression can increase. Being aware of our behaviors is a good starting point to understanding and taking care of ourselves better, including the people around us. Alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that is accompanied by 1 or more of the following problems:
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Alcoholism (alcohol dependence) is a more severe pattern of drinking. Typical problems are:
There is no cure for alcoholism, but effective treatments are available. Your doctor can discuss the type of treatment right for you. Acute withdrawal and detoxification is used for individuals who use alcohol heavily and is designed to prevent and treat withdrawal symptoms. Medications may be used to prevent relapse. Individual or family counseling is also an important part of treatment. Mutual help groups Individuals in these groups support each other by sharing personal experiences and advice. For more information contact:
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Copyright 2005, Mecosta County Medical Center