Chapter 6 Drinking, Drugs & Health

1. Chapter 6Drinking, Drugs & Health

2. Effects of Alcohol • Alcohol is a drug that affects overall driving ability. • It may make a motorist overconfident and unable to think clearly. • Drinking even a small amount of alcohol increases a motorist’s chances of having an accident. • NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE!

3. Alcohol in your System • Alcohol is a depressant drug. It promotes relaxation and slows down all body functions. • It is absorbed directly through the stomach lining and small intestines.

4. Body Systems • Eyesight • blurred vision, trouble focusing, poor glare recovery. • Nervous • balance, coordination, reaction time. • Circulatory • pulse and blood pressure is lowered causing less oxygen to reach the brain. Capillaries open causing the skin to become flushed. The skin temperature rises taking heat away from your vital organs. Loss of body heat could lead to hypothermia in extremely cold conditions.

5. Respiratory • breathing rate is lowered. • Intellect • poor judgment, mood swings, people often act differently than their “normal” self. They may become loud, boisterous, argumentative, violent, emotional &/or the life-of-the-party.

6. Effects of Alcohol • Alcohol is removed slowly by the body. • The majority (90%) of the alcohol detoxified is oxidized (burned up) by the liver. • The other 10 percent is eliminated in breath, urine and sweat. • *This fact is the prime reason why sober-up-quick methods do not work!

7. If two individuals go to a party and drink the same amount of alcohol, will they be affected in the same way? Why or why not?

8. BAC • The only way to check to see if a person has had too much to drink is through BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration). • BAC is determined by four factors: • Quantity of alcohol consumed • Body weight • How quickly drinks were consumed • Food Eaten

9. BAC • It is illegal for an individual who is 21 years of age or older to drive with a BAC of what? • .08 or higher • For individuals younger than 21, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of what? • .01 or higher

10. BAC • If a motorist has reached a BAC of slightly above .05 percent after drinking, the risk for causing a motor vehicle accident doubles. • The risk is six times as great when driving with a BAC of .10 percent. • The risk is 25 times as great when driving with a BAC of .15 percent.

11. BAC • Under state law, refusal to take a breath test is equal to driving with a BAC of .10 for a first offense. • The current penalty is loss of driving privileges for seven months to one year. • Those who choose not to take a breath test are also subject to an MVC insurance surcharge of $1000 per year for 3 years. Failure to pay this surcharge will result in an indefinite suspension of driving privileges until the fee is paid.

12. Drunk Driving Concept Car • http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/TECHNOLOGY/INTRODUCTION/DETAILS/DPCC/index.html

13. One Drink Equals… • How much alcohol is in one drink? • There is approximately .5 ounce of alcohol in each of the following: 12 ounce beer = 1.5 ounces of 86 proof liquor =5 oz glass of wine

14. If the same person has seven beers, it would be equal to drinking how many mixed drinks or glasses of wine? • Seven mixed drinks • Seven glasses of wine

15. Sobering Up • Do any of the following sober techniques work? • Drinking caffeine • Exercising • Taking a cold shower

16. The average body burns off one drink in approximately one hour. • For a smaller person it will take longer and for a larger person it will take a slightly shorter time to oxidize the drink.

17. What is the only thing that can make a person sober? TIME!

18. It is important to remember that it does not matter which alcoholic beverage is consumed. • IT’S NOT WHAT YOU DRINK, IT’S HOW MUCH YOU DRINK • What alcoholic beverage do you think the most people that have been drunk driving had been drinking? • Beer

19. BAC Calculator • http://www.ou.edu/oupd/bac.htm

20. Although food does slow down the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream, eating will not prevent a high BAC when steadily drinking large amounts. Heavy drinking will always produce a high BAC. Eating does not make a motorist sober.

21. How does law enforcement know you have been drinking and driving? • Speeding • an intoxicated driver often thinks high speed driving is safe. • Weaving • Even though an intoxicated driver may stay in the correct lane, driving straight may be a problem. • Slow driving • An intoxicated driver may be overly cautious and drive slower than normal traffic flow.

22. How does law enforcement know you have been drinking and driving? • Jerking motion • an intoxicated river often may have short mental lapses and not keep a steady speed on a clear road. • Quick stops • an intoxicated driver may make sudden stops at a traffic sign or light, rather than easing up to it.

23. Good Hosts and the Drinking Driver • Always be a good host. • Do NOT let anyone drive that has been drinking too much. • Provide non-alcoholic beverages. • Stop serving alcohol before the party ends.

24. Why is it important to be a good host? Hosts may become involved in a lawsuit if a guest is involved in a drinking and driving collision after leaving the party.

25. Designated Drivers • New Jersey is the first state in the US to officially launch the Hero Campaign for Designated Drivers. • NJ encourages all state residents to participate in designated driver programs wherever they travel. • A motorist who chooses to have a DD when attending functions where alcohol will be served shows maturity and consideration for other motorists who share the road.

26. Drugs and Driving • It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle on NJ roadways under the influence of any illegal drugs. • The labels on bottles of prescription drugs will describe certain side effects. • Drugs that “may cause drowsiness or dizziness” should not be taken before driving.

27. Drugs and Driving • Drugs that may affect basic driving skills include cold pills, tranquilizers and some prescription medications. • Never mix drugs and alcohol! • If asked, motorists using prescription drugs must show proof of the prescription to law enforcement.

28. What drug is most often found with drivers involved in collisions? • Marijuana

29. Drugs and Driving • Marijuana use may affect a motorist in the following ways: • Loss of tracking ability: This is the ability to maintain a vehicle in a given line. • Distance Judgment: Following too closely can cause problems. • Vigilance: Not remaining attentive to the driving task can cause a motorist to follow too closely, drift into another lane, etc. • Divided Attention: Driving is a task that requires constant attention to traffic, roadway and weather conditions, passengers, gauges, etc.

30. Healthy Driving • Health • Any health problem can affect an individual’s driving. • Even little problems like a stiff neck, a cough or a sore leg can give an individual trouble.

31. Healthy Driving • Vision • A motorist should have his/her eyes tested every year or two. • Good side vision (peripheral vision) is also essential for safe driving.

32. Healthy Driving • Hearing • Hearing is essential to driving. • It can warn a motorist of danger. • A motorist should always keep the radio turned down and never wear earphones.

33. CHAPTER 7: DRIVER PRIVILEGES AND PENALTIES

34. DUI and DWI • What is the difference between DUI and DWI? • Some states make no distinction between DUI and DWI. One of the main things to remember regardless of the two is that your ability to drive has become IMPAIRED.

35. DUI • DUI: Driving Under the Influence of drugs or alcohol. Alcohol is definitely in the driver’s system, but depending on the level of impairment, they may or may not be charged with the offense. Those people registering below the legal limit may not be charged with DUI. Other Violations can be administered if detected.

36. DWI • DWI: Driving While Intoxicated by alcohol or drugs. You are at, or over the legal limit and will most likely be arrested for the offense.

37. Underage drinking is illegal and can have severe consequences for young people who drink and for adults who provide alcoholic beverages to those under age 21. • If a driver under age 21 buys or drinks alcohol in a place with an alcoholic beverage license, he/she may be fined $500 and lose his/her license for six months. • If a person under age 21 does not have a driver license, the suspension starts when he/she is first eligible to receive a license. Also, the person may be required to participate in an alcohol education or treatment program.

38. Mandatory Penalties • First offense/ BAC .08% or more but less than .10% • 3 month suspension of driving privilege • $250 to $400 fine • 12-48 hour participation in an intoxicated driver resource center (IDRC) • $230 per day IDRC fee • Up to 30 day imprisonment • $100 Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund fee • $100 Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund fee • $1,000 annual surcharge for 3 years. • $75 Safe Neighborhood Services Fund fee • Possible interlock device requirement for six months to one year

39. First offense/ BAC .10% or more • Seven month to one year suspension of driving privilege • $300 to $500 fine • 12 to 48 hour participation in an IDRC • $239 per day IDRC fee • Up to 30 days imprisonment • $100 DDEF fee • $100 Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund fee • $1,000 annual surcharge for three years • $75 Safe Neighborhood Services Fund fee • Possible interlock device requirement for six months to one year

40. Underage first offence/ BAC .01% or more but less than .08% • 30 to 90 day suspension of driving privilege (on day motorist becomes eligible to obtain a license or on the day of conviction, whichever is later • 15 to 30 days community service • Participation in an intoxicated river resource center or alcohol education and highway safety program.

41. New Jersey has an implied consent law. This means that motorists on New Jersey roadways have agreed, simply by using New Jersey roadways, to submit to a breath test given by law enforcement or hospital staff following an arrest for a drinking-and-driving offense. Motorists who refuse to take a breath test will be detained and brought to a hospital, where hospital staff may draw blood.

42. Motorists who refuse to take a breath test in New Jersey are subject to an MVC insurance surcharge of $1,000 per year for three years. Failure to pay this surcharge will result in an indefinite suspension of driving privileges until the fee is paid. Motorists who refuse to take a breath test will be detained and brought to a hospital, where hospital staff may draw blood.

43. Under state law, refusal to take a breath test is equal to driving with a BAC of .10 percent for a first offense. The current penalty for refusal is the loss of driving privileges for between seven months and one year, to run concurrently or consecutively, based upon a judge’s order.

44. Interlock Ignition Device • A motorist who is convicted of a DUI offense must install an ignition interlock device in any motor vehicle they own, lease or operate during and after the entire period for which their driving privilege is suspended. This device is attached to the vehicle with a built-in Breathalyzer and prevents the vehicle from starting if the motorist’s BAC exceeds .05 percent. The interlock requirement is in addition to any other penalty required under the state’s drunk driving statute.

45. First DUI offense with BAC of less than 0.15%: Installation of interlock device for six months to one year from the date of driving privilege restoration (judge’s discretion) • First DUI offense with BAC of 0.15% or higher OR Refusal to Submit to Breath Test Offense: Installation of interlock device during suspension and for six months to one year from the date of driving privilege restoration • Second or Subsequent DUI OR Refusal to Breath Test Offense: Installation of interlock device during suspension for one to three years from the date of driving privilege restoration

46. If the court sentences a motorist to install an interlock device, he/she will receive an MVC notice explaining how to obtain the device, as well as an additional MVC notice confirming the suspension.

47. Intoxicated driver resource center (IDRC) • State law requires that any motorist charged with an alcohol-related traffic offense must be detained at an IDRC. Each of New Jersey’s 21 counties has an IDRC where first- and third-time offenders are detained. Second-time offenders are detained at one of three regional IDRCs. The N.J. Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Addiction Services, and the Intoxicated Driving Program coordinates all IDRCs. • During detention, all offenders attend an alcohol and highway safety education program. The center evaluates each offender for an alcohol or drug problem and determines the need for treatment. Those deemed in need of treatment are referred to an appropriate provider for at least a 16-week treatment program. • Satisfactory participation in a state-assigned program is a condition for 
re-licensing. Failure to comply will result in further loss of driving privileges and the
possibility of imprisonment.

48. Scenario 1 • You and a friend drive together to a party. Your friend drinks two beers and at the end of the evening says to you “come on — let’s go.” This is your only close friend at the party, and you know you have to be home in a half-hour because of your curfew. You know you shouldn’t drive home with your friend, but you don’t want to hurt her feelings and you need to get home.

49. What you could do: • You don’t want to jeopardize your friendship nor do you want to be home late — but you also know that you shouldn’t drive with someone who has been drinking. • DON’T DRIVE WITH ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN DRINKING. Your first priority is to get home safely. Consider the following: • 1. Ask your friend for the car keys and drive her home, then drive yourself home. • 2. If your friend resists giving you the keys, ask others at the party to help convince her to give up her keys, even if that means asking the parents. • 3. If you know others at the party that you trust are sober, ask them to give both you and your friend a ride home. If that’s not possible, call a friend, your parents, or Safe Rides (if it exists in your city) and ask for a ride home. • Whatever you do, don’t give in. Friends don’t let friends drink and drive. In the morning, you’ll have a safer and maybe an even closer friend.

50. Scenario 2 Your older brother is home from college and your parents are out of town. Your brother allows you to invite friends over. You know that this is a perfect opportunity to throw a party. Since your brother is 21, you ask him to buy some beer for you and your friends and he agrees to do it. Your brother may not realize that buying alcohol for teens is illegal and he could get in trouble for it.