Give me one for my baby, and one more for the road………..Although, having one more drink for the road used to be a commonplace ideology, things have changed. Drinking and driving don’t mix. So why do we continue to do it? Surprisingly, almost 13% of high school seniors said they drove after smoking pot, and 10% stated they drove after 5 drinks or more. The leading cause of deaths from driving under the influence; are teenagers. A governmental sponsored study indicated that drinking and driving (or smoking pot and driving) remained as a significant problem among teenagers, despite efforts from educators, the media and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Shockingly, almost 9.5 million teenagers admitted to driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol during the past 2 weeks. Teenagers, when questioned, acknowledge that one should not drive while under the influence, yet they still engage in this high risk behavior. Why?
In reviewing the data, some things do make a difference. Teenagers who excelled in school, were religiously oriented, and had two parents did not engage in drinking while driving as much as those who did not have these attributes. The moral for single parents who do not have a religious affiliation is too be present for their kids, involve others as role models to repeat admonitions or advice, keep the kids involved in school and praise accomplishments, and finally, communicate what your moral standards are to your kids. Remember, having said something once is not enough. The brain reacts to repeated information much more avidly than information only imparted once or twice.
Drinking and using drugs (usually marijuana) are linked; although the combination proves more than deadly. Marijuana has been shown to slow the perception of time or speed; alcohol exponentially distorts these two critical driving skills, along with lowering one’s judgment and executive functions. Motor skills are also impaired by both marijuana and alcohol. Add all these components to an inexperienced driver, and it is easy to see why teenagers have a ride with disaster when they use alcohol and pot.
“These findings are another wake-up call that we cannot afford to be
complacent about this great public health risk.” (NIH, 2007)
Sources
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, November, 2007
http://www.jsad.com/jsad/article/Drugs_and_Driving_by_American_High_School_Seniors_20012006/2185.html
National Institute of Drug Abuse
http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/driving.html
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