Posts Tagged ‘DUI’

New York State adds stronger drunk driving laws

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

As reported by the Associated Press yesterday (via the New York Times), New York State legislators agreed on tougher drunk driving laws.Basically, the law has created a stiffer penalty for those who drive under the influence with a child in the car, turning the DUI from a misdemeanor to a felony. The agreement will also cause offenders to have a breathalyzer installed in their car to stop offenders from starting a car while under the influence. Although some additional details have to be worked out, officials from both sides said that the any differences would be settled quickly. The law will be named after 11-year-old Leandra Rosado, who was killed when a station wagon full of children driven by a mother accused of drunken driving crashed in Manhattan on Oct. 11.

Her father, Lenny Rosado, had this to say: “Today I consider this a very glorious day and very victorious day for me. For my family, and for my daughter … this is what is going to save lives in her honor.Everyone who takes a drink and gets behind the wheel, is going to think twice about driving whether there are children in the car or outside of the car and taking a life, that my daughter’s name and her death will make a difference.”

On the heels of Diane Schuler, the mother who drove the wrong way down the Taconic State Thruway in New York earlier this year and killed multiple children, this law is a long time coming. We can only hope that those who choose to drink and drive are apprehended and given the help that they need. What we have found interesting in the past is that car insurance companies tend to give more “points,” or items that raise individuals’ insurance rates, to speeding tickets over DUIs. This needs to change. Driving under the influence is one of the most dangerous activities out there- one can only hope people learn to simply call a cab when necessary. Should drinking and driving be something a family member engages in, it’s the family’s responsibility to hold him or her accountable.

For help for yourself or a loved one, please call us at 877-320-0247 or visit us on the web at www.a-i-r.com.

Tags: addiction, addiction intervention, AiR Assistance in recovery, alcohol, alcoholism, assistance in recovery, drug addiction, DUI, hazelden, intervention, recovery, Recovery Assistance Program, substance abuse
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Binge eating encourages behavior

Friday, October 30th, 2009

An article in the New York Daily News today talked about a recent study showing that binge eating on junk food created a need for additional junk food. The study, conducted by Dr. Paul Kenny, a neuroscientist, showed that a diet of fast food (i.e. burgers, fries, and other high-salt, high-sugar foods) can create the phenomenon of craving for additional unhealthy food. This study seems to show, as the article states, the first link that junk food and drugs create similar reactions in brain chemistry. “This is the most complete evidence to date that suggests obesity and drug addiction have common neuro-biological foundations,”  Paul Johnson,  Kenny’s colleague, told the Daily Telegraph. An interesting study, and one we can hope will work towards improving brain work around addiction and overeating collectively.

Another interesting piece out of New York today; a Long Island town is requiring parents of high-school seniors to attend an educational seminar around the dangers and warning signs of heroin abuse. The 90 minute meeting in Smithtown provides a number of different ideas around how to prevent and recognize heroin use and abuse. As a mandatory meeting for parents of seniors, one can only hope the school district will replicate the program for younger students as well. We can only hope other communities will learn from this- education around addiction and abuse is one of the few was towards getting people the help that they need. After all, in the words of Robert Rossi, president of the Smithtown school board: “The job of a school district is not just to educate kids, it’s to educate parents.”

For help for yourself or someone you love, contact us directly at 877-320-0247 or visit www.a-i-r.com.

Tags: addiction intervention, addictive eating, AiR Assistance in recovery, alcohol, alcoholism, binge eating, DUI, eating disorder, eating disorders, overeating
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Drinking and driving facts

Friday, August 14th, 2009

An article in the Associated Press by Lisa Flam (seen here in the Dallas Morning News) brings up some interesting facts- that more women are getting behind the wheel of automobiles after consuming cocktails. According to the article, the number of women arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs was 28.8 percent higher in 2007 than it was in 1998, while the number of men arrested was 7.5 percent lower, according to FBI figures that cover about 56 percent of the country.

“Younger women feel more empowered, more equal to men, and have been beginning to exhibit the same uninhibited behaviors as men,” said Chris Cochran of the California Office of Traffic Safety. This article was brought up as a result of a New York woman causing a fatal accident while drunk and under the influence of drugs.

A good article from Women’s eNews touches on issues with women and substance abuse, especially among mothers. This talks about how dealing with kids is difficult, as well as dealing with marital issues. More women are turning to alcohol and drugs for stress relief.

Well the truth is, everyone deals with stress. Developing healthy coping mechanisms is one of the integral parts of recovery; however, if we work with our families at a younger age, we may be able to encourage healthy behaviors prior to a mother driving the wrong way down a one way street, drunk and with children. The main issue here is denial; this woman’s husband has said repeatedly that he’s never seen her drunk during their marriage. Our guess? He probably wasn’t looking that hard. People don’t just randomly decide to go out and drink and drive– there tends to be some sort of build up.

If her husband and family had been aware of the resources available, or hadn’t been to worried to say anything, then we could’ve avoided this tragic accident. Denial kills far more alcoholics and addicts than treatment, that’s for sure.

Tags: addiction, alcoholism, drunk driving, DUI, mothers against drunk driving, women alcoholics, women drinking more
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