Public Spark

With so many celebrities and even people in the neighborhood that I know involved in drunk driving, I felt it a cause and my wish to write. These are strictly my personal thoughts and feelings.

My first thoughts when I hear about drunk driving is what in the world are the drunk drivers thinking? How can anyone despite all of their problems be so selfish as to put others in danger. It is not fair for those minding their our business and driving legally to be potential victims of drunk drivers.

However, after stepping back, I do understand perhaps superficially as to the drunk driving mentality. Because of both my personal and professional experience with alcoholism, I can see that the cause of drunk driving can stem from many factors. One factor can be as simple as drinking too much and getting into the vehicle, unaware that for the first time they are still intoxicated. Others may be heavy drinkers, drinking away their pain and still feeling like they have control of the vehicle. There’s no one else to stop them (most likely they’re drunk) or the drinker slips out and wants to go home so therefore drives. Either way the cost of drunk driving can be deadly. Furthermore, for the repeated offenders, you question their self-confidence, coping mechanisms, social network, and issues. What makes them do what is obviously putting their lives, other people’s lives in danger. Is it control?

I feel sad that they cannot make the right judgment to drink and find someone sober to drive them home. I feel sad that for multiple offenders, neither themselves nor the people around them realize that it is a disease and cannot be connected to the help they so hopelessly need.

I have heard horror stories where the drunk driver has left innocent victims in a coma, paralyzed or dead. Fortunately steps are being taken, but there is still advancements that need to be made.

These are excellent resources:

MADD (http://www.madd.org/) is a non-profit organization with a mission to stop drunk driving, support victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.

SADD (http://www.sadd.org/) is a peer leadership organization dedicated to preventing destructive decisions including, but not limited to underage drinking, other drug use, and impaired driving.

Please let me know about what you think regarding this issue.