| -> | | | | of the same benefits. |
| The simple answer is to not drink and drive, and for | | | | For as long as history can record the activities of |
| simple people that is fine. But having worked with | | | | cultures and societies alcohol has reduced stress and |
| persons convicted of drinking and driving offenses for | | | | provided a sense of well being to people around the |
| over 20 years, I know the answer is not that | | | | world. But today we live in a time that is unique in the |
| straightforward. | | | | history of our planet. Time is speeding up so rapidly the |
| The true answer is more complicated because alcohol | | | | word 'relax' is only used as a goal for the weekend. In |
| is woven into the fabric our culture and society. It is a | | | | 1863 Henry David Thoreau published an article in the |
| social problem as much as it is a personal one. Most | | | | Atlantic Monthly (originally an 1854 lecture called "What |
| people's perception of a drunk driver is of one who | | | | Shall it Profit") in which he called for people to "Let us |
| causes accidents and kills innocent people. This can | | | | consider the way in which we spend our lives." He |
| not only be true, but painfully so to the victims of the | | | | discussed how idleness was considered the work of |
| drunk driver. But if you consider the fact that only 10% | | | | the devil. Relaxation or the ability to be at ease is a |
| of drunken driving charges are felonies (involving | | | | missing component to what once was an essential |
| injuries) that leaves 1,260,000 misdemeanor DUI arrests | | | | part of our lives. In the days of earlier America it was |
| every year in the U.S. | | | | against societal laws to run businesses on Sundays; |
| Who is the 'average' drunk driver? The question again | | | | idle days were the Law! |
| begs for a simple answer because if we could identify | | | | Today people use chemicals for all sorts of solutions. |
| the problem driver then we could 'profile' him and | | | | Take an aspirin, take a pill, take a drug and you can |
| prevent him from causing the problems associated | | | | (and will) feel better. It's not the blame of commercial |
| with drinking and driving. The problem of identification, | | | | and business interests; it's the responsibility and the |
| however, is in the question. There is no average drunk | | | | irresponsibility of every one of us: drunk drivers, drinking |
| driver. Yes, there are more men arrested for drunk | | | | drivers and ordinary drivers (sleepy ones, cell phone |
| driving than women (90% men), and a vast majority of | | | | using ones, distracted drivers, busy drivers) that put us |
| offenders are between the ages of 25 and 40. But | | | | in the condition we are facing today. |
| from my experience offenders are generally 'normal' | | | | DUI Attorneys have the job of defending those |
| people, hard working, functional and no different from | | | | charged with drunk driving. But the drivers need to |
| most of us. About 70% of adults drink alcohol and | | | | understand their behavior and take responsibility for |
| most of those who drink, drink and drive... legally or not. | | | | their own actions. The rule of addiction and recovery is |
| If we are going to actually begin to reduce the | | | | the rule of change itself. The rule of recovery says |
| negative impact drinking and driving is having on our | | | | that you won't change until you are ready. This means |
| society we must look at the reason people drink in the | | | | that you must want to change because you want |
| first place. We must evaluate how we can moderate | | | | something more than what you are presently |
| the degree to which people consume alcohol (and | | | | experiencing (in your life, job, marriage, relationship, |
| other drugs) and provide alternatives that have some | | | | family, etc). |