Running Head: THE EFFECTS OF DRUNK DRIVING

The Effects of Drunk Driving

Frank Triste, John Jaime, Jesus Gamiz The University of Texas at El Paso

THE EFFECTS OF DRUNK DRIVING

Alcohol is the most used drug across the nation and understanding its risks and benefits are important when deciding when to drink or not to drink. Many people are affected by alcohol by one way or another. Whether it is a high school graduate being killed by a drunken driver or a medical professional receiving a Driving While Intoxicated charge, alcohol has its benefits and consequences. The family of victims of intoxicated manslaughter are affected forever and eternally scarred because of the event that causes the death. With alcohol being the most common drug used worldwide, knowing the effects associated with it is important. High levels of illness and death are associated with its abuse. According to Karen Vieira PhD, author of The Effects of Alcohol: the Positive and the Negative alcohol has been known to be detrimental to health; however, studies are present that reveal the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. Upon ingestion, alcohol is absorbed in the small intestines and quickly enters the bloodstream. Maximum blood alcohol concentration is reached when the alcohol is distributed to all water compartments in the body, which is around seventy-five minutes after ingestion (Vieira, 2008). Alcohol is considered both nutrient and a drug. As a nutrient, the body uses alcohol for energy to build up and repair tissue. As a drug, alcohol is able to alter certain processes in the body. Like all drugs, depending on the dosage, alcohol can be both therapeutic and toxic (Vieira, 2008). More than a hundred studies from more than twenty-five different countries have all shown moderate alcohol consumption to be beneficial to health (Vieira, 2008). All of the studies have shown that those who consume alcohol have a considerably lower risk

THE EFFECTS OF DRUNK DRIVING for coronary heart disease. These studies have shown that all three types of alcohol (beer, wine, and distilled spirits) produced these results, however, wine has been shown to be the most protective, followed by beer, and lastly distilled spirits (Vieira, 2008). It is thought that it is the daily habits of moderate consumption along with the source of alcohol consumed are factors against heart disease. In addition, abstainers, light-drinkers, and heavy-drinkers have a higher risk of mortality, coronary heart disease, and cancer than moderate daily drinkers (Vieira, 2008). Wine intake shows to have a positive effect on blood triglyceride profiles and also lowers blood pressure in turn, reducing the chances of atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke (Vieira, 2008). In addition, moderate alcohol consumption can counter insulin resistance and lower the risk of type two diabetes as well as decreasing the risk for certain types of cancer such as lymphoma and kidney cancer (Vieira, 2008). The health benefits of the relaxation effect of moderate drinking cannot be ignored. In conclusion, it has been shown that people who consume moderate amounts of alcohol actually have a decreased risk illness and death compared to those who do not drink and abuse alcohol (Vieira, 2008). The World Health Organization published a study on the global burden of disease in 2000, and found that with increasing volume of alcohol consumed, an increase in health problems is observed (Vieira, 2008). Not only the volume of alcohol is important in considering health risks, but also habits are important (Vieira, 2008). Some short-term effects of excessive alcohol intake are: dehydration, lethargy, changes in vision, coma, and even death (Vieira, 2008). Ethanol begins to exert its toxic effects when more is ingested than the liver can process in an hour, which is about 15 grams of pure ethanol (Vieira, 2008). Immediate effects are the inability of the intestines to absorb nutrients

THE EFFECTS OF DRUNK DRIVING causing vitamin deficiencies (Vieira, 2008). Liver disease is most commonly associated with long-term excessive alcohol. The common short-term after effect of excessive alcohol consumption is the hangover and is mostly caused by the dehydrating effects of ethanol. In western countries alcohol abuse is the number one cause of chronic liver disease, often noted by the presence of liver cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis is progressive and can eventually lead to liver failure (Vieira, 2008). Excessive drinkers have been shown to be at increased risk for head and neck cancers as well (Vieira, 2008). While moderate alcohol use has many positive health benefits, excessive alcohol use can damage your body permanently. Alcohol could be very harmful when youre are not being precautious especially in young teenagers it may bring many risk like personal health, academic, safety, relationships and what many parents fear the most being addicted to alcohol. During the decade it has been stated that violations of laws prohibiting or regulating the possession or use of alcohol within a teenager younger than 21 its a violation. For example, if a teenager goes to a store where they sale alcohol and the sales man fails at asking for the I.D to verify if the teenager is over the age of 21 and he sales the bottle of alcohol the sales man and the teenagers could be in a serious problem for the distribution of alcohol and consumption of alcohol. Now, many people teenagers dont think that being in the influence of alcohol is dangerous but violations of laws is a result of being under the influence of alcohol some of the examples are criminal behavior, resulting the alcohol consumption, DWI, fights, theft, vandalism, violence against friends or even family, even stealing their own family to be able to consume alcohol is an example because it shows that the teenagers is getting somewhat addicted to the alcohol. Of course all this

THE EFFECTS OF DRUNK DRIVING outcomes start within the family of the individual because if the teenagers lives a lifestyle where he is not being loved or doesnt have a job the teenagers has more chance opportunities to violate the law and learn criminal skills from other offenders. The interesting part is that many Teenagers dont consider that damage they are doing to themselves because by time drinking theyll have difficulty walking, blurred vision, slurred speech, slowed reactions time and impaired memory. Clearly alcohol affects the brain. As it is stated on the article, We do know that heavy drinking may have extensive and far-reaching effects on the brain, ranging from simple slips in memory to permanent and debilitating conditions that required lifetime custodial care. All this can be caused by how much and how often a person drinks, the age at which he or she first began drinking and how long he or she has been drinking, the person age, level of education, gender, genetic background, and family history of alcoholism. Just t in the year 2007 over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and most of those millions of people among those are just teenagers Although many people know that drinking and driving is bad many people oversee it and do it anyway. There are many laws that combat drunk driving. For example, an individual's Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) cannot be over .08%. It is legal to drive at .08% (BAC) but exceeding that percentage will result in great consequences. First time offenders will be fined up to $350-$1500 fine, and the individuals license will be suspended for a year. While a second offense will result in 11 months in jail, along with a $600-$3500 fine (GHSA 2013). The judge can order an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) installed in your car. An Ignition Interlock Device is something like a breathalyzer test that police officers use to

THE EFFECTS OF DRUNK DRIVING check the (BAC) of an individual. But in this case, it is installed on the dashboard of the car. Before the car is started the (IID) requires a breath sample from the driver, from there it calculates the (BAC) level of that individual. If the (BAC) level is too high to engine will not start (GHSA 2013). The Century Council states that the minimum drinking age law has worked throughout the whole nation. There is a zero tolerance for any under aged offenders of alcohol. It is illegal for minors to purchase, consume and even have possession of alcohol. Since the Century Council was established the rate of drunk driving has decreased by 35%. More than 300,00lives have been saved as a result from efforts to extinguish drunk driving. 9,878 lives were lost in 2011, making it a 2.5% decrease from 2010 which resulted in 10,136 deaths by drunk drivers. With so many deaths, current laws will still not prevent an individual to do careless mistakes. Many people know the consequences and what can happen to them, but unfortunately combating drunk driving to the fullest of 100% is nearly impossible. According to James l. Nichols, Ph.D. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), license actions such as suspension and revocation are the most effective laws there is. That individual will have a second thought about whether or not to drive, even if the individual is sober or not. Their experience and the fear of future punishment is expected to reduce the urge to drink and driver. When caught while drinking and

driving the judge is more than likely to send the individual to rehabilitation. Many people think that rehabilitation refers to the fear of being sanctioned in the future but in fact is the changing in the violator's motivation through the experience of the sanction. Imprisonment also achieves this goal during the time of the violator's confinement. The

THE EFFECTS OF DRUNK DRIVING use of jails and prisons sentences have resulted in long-term learning, especially for first time offenders. There are also alternates for consequences when caught while drinking and driving. Some common consequences are community service, residential treatment to even house arrest. But studies have showed that these programs are not effective when it comes down to teaching a lesson to not repeat the mistakes. The Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving have recommended that a second time offender must be sentenced to 48 hours of jail. Even though there are many laws and regulations corresponding to drinking and diving there are some laws that will benefit to reduce drinking and driving.

Even though you may not be the person drinking or violating the law you could be the victim of one who is under the influence of alcohol. For example there this girl well know her name is, Jacqui Saburido who lived in Venezuela she was beautiful and smart in college she study engineering and hope that one day have kids and marry a life everyone dreams of. In august 1999, Jacqui said goodbye to his parent and move to Texas to study English, but just one month later coming back from a birthday party the car were she was got hit by a high school student who was driving drunk, Jacqui couldnt get out of the vehicle she was trapped and she was on flames for about a minute she practically burned all her skin without being recognize by family members. As you can see many accidents are caused by the drunk driver but most of the time the ones that get hurt are the innocent people, this could be an example for many young teenagers out there because having a good time its great but you got to watch out and know your limits. Each year more than 600,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another

THE EFFECTS OF DRUNK DRIVING student who has been drinking, 95 % of all violent crime on college campuses the use of alcohol by the assailant, victim or both. Every day 36 people die and approximately 700 are injured in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol impaired driver. See this has become an issue during the years in many various communities, cities, and nationwide, drinking is the number on cause of death injury and disability on young people under the age of 21. As you can see theres a lot to cover upon this issue just in the fact that it doesnt benefits the human being at all it just brings worries, addiction, and nonsense things into our lives we need to be able to recognize better the way we decide to live our lives. In another words while some specialist say that small amounts of alcohol may have beneficial cardiovascular effects, in the other hand heavier drinking led to health problems. Also drinking problems also have a very negative impact on mental health. Alcohol abuse can worsen existing conditions such as depression or induce new problems such as serious memory loss, depression or even anxiety. It is stated that alcohol related disorders severely impair functioning and health, but the prospects for successful long term problem resolution are good for people seeking proper help. Psychologist is applying knowledge they have to resolve alcohol problems and they are working to make treatment available where its needed. This issue being part of my community problems concerns me because I know people who drink and knowing all this horrible consequences puts you in a difficult position on hoe to help your friends, relatives or just people nationwide by letting them know what can caused them to drink heavily. In conclusion, alcohol has its benefits and its drawbacks. Although moderately drinking has beneficial factors contributing towards ones health, alcohol one way or

THE EFFECTS OF DRUNK DRIVING another affects many people in a negative or positive way. Drunk drivers that kill innocent victims forever affect many families. Alcohol has many health risks as well and when binge drinking, one can develop serious health conditions.

THE EFFECTS OF DRUNK DRIVING

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References Vieira PhD, K. (n.d.). The Effects of Alcohol: the Positive and the Negative. Retrieved from http://www.2basnob.com/effects-of-alcohol.html http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/cracking-down-on-drinking-anddriving/?_r=0 http://www.ghsa.org/html/issues/impaireddriving/index.html http://www.ghsa.org/html/issues/impaireddriving/index.html#ii