This Holiday Season, If You Catch A Buzz, Catch A Ride

This Holiday Season, If You Catch A Buzz, Catch A Ride
Kathy King, ACSW

The holiday season is supposed to be a time for family, friends, and festive celebrations, but it is unfortunately also a time when we see a tragic jump in the number of alcohol-related highway fatalities each year. December is Impaired Driving Prevention Month. The purpose of this designation is to help underscore the public’s commitment to preventing impaired driving and promoting the use of designated drivers and sober ride programs.

Get the Facts
Drivers are considered to be alcohol impaired when their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08 grams per deciliter (g/dl) or higher. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA))

Nationally, 10,839 people died in alcohol-related highway crashes during 2009. (NHTSA)
Every 48 minutes, someone in America dies in an alcohol-related crash. (NHTSA, 2009)
Drugs other than alcohol (e.g. marijuana and cocaine) are involved in about 18% of motor vehicle driver deaths. These and other drugs are generally used in combination with alcohol. (Jones et al. 2003)
Many prescriptions, over the counter, and herbal remedies can be dangerous or even deadly when mixed with alcohol. (National Institute on Aging)

What can you do about impaired driving?
Designating a sober driver before the party begins is just one of several simple steps to remember that might help avoid a tragic crash or an arrest for impaired driving. Please use these other simple reminders for a safer holiday season:

Don’t even think about getting behind the wheel of your vehicle if you’ve been out drinking.
If you are impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit, or get a sober friend or family member to come and get you; or
Just stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober.
And remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. Take the keys and never let a friend leave your sight if you think he or she is about to drive while impaired.

Hosting a Holiday Party
If you are hosting a party this holiday season, remind your guests to plan ahead. Here are some other tips to ensure your party is a safe one:

Always offer alcohol-free beverages during the event.
Make sure all of your guests leave with a sober driver.
Stop serving alcohol about 2 hours before the end of the party.
Suggest guests stay overnight, or get them a taxi.
Driving impaired or riding with someone who is impaired is simply not worth the risk. The consequences are serious and real.

So remember, this holiday season, “If you catch a buzz, catch a ride.”

Behavioral Health Services provides substance abuse assessments and referrals to treatment for substance abuse disorders. Counseling is also available to employees who are affected by a family member’s alcohol or drug use. Call 376-4418 for more information.