Peter Derosa, Montville Joshua Center Program Director, Natchaug Hospital.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, every day 32 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This amounts to one death every 45 minutes. The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $51 billion.

•  In 2008, 11,773 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for nearly one-third (32%) of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.

•  Of the 1,347 traffic fatalities among children ages 0 to 14 years in 2008, about one out of every six (16%) involved an alcohol-impaired driver.

•  Of the 216 child passengers ages 14 and younger who died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2008, about half (99) were riding in the vehicle with the alcohol-impaired driver.

•  In 2008, over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. That’s less than one percent of the 159 million self-reported episodes of alcohol-impaired driving among U.S. adults each year.

•  Drugs other than alcohol (e.g., marijuana and cocaine) are involved in about 18% of motor vehicle driver deaths. These other drugs are often used in combination with alcohol.

Young people, motorcyclists and drivers with a history of driving under the influence are most at risk and we know that Southeastern CT has had our share of alcohol related fatal motor vehicle deaths. Certainly increased law enforcement, sobriety check points, additional education and increased treatment can help. However, individually we can take deliberate steps to reduce incidents of alcohol related deaths.

Tell your friend or family member or child that you do not want him getting into a car with someone who has been drinking or using drugs. The use of a designated driver is a widely acceptable prevention tool and should be encouraged.

Tell your friend or family member that you want them to call you if they cannot get home safely. Emphasize that, while you do not support excessive alcohol use, safety comes first.

If you host a party, have plenty of non alcoholic beverages available, and if you are concerned, hold the keys for the drivers. Do not serve alcohol to adolescents. Check on your guests regularly and make sure no one is bringing in unwanted alcohol or illegal drugs into your home.
Be a good role model and enjoy the holidays.

Sincerely,
Peter Derosa
Montville Joshua Center Program Director
Natchaug Hospital

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