December is National Drunk, Drugged and Distracted Prevention Month

Did you know that of the fatal crashes in 2010, the highest percentage of drunk drivers was for drivers ages 21 to 24 (34 percent), followed by ages 25 to 34 (30 percent) and 35 to 44 (25 percent)? Did you know that the number of people killed in distraction-affected crashes decreased slightly from 3,360 in 2011 to 3,328 in 2012. An estimated 421,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver, this was a nine percent increase from the estimated 387,000 people injured in 2011? (Source: Distraction.gov).

On December 1, 2010, President Barack Obama signed a Presidential Proclamation stating that December would be observed as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.  The Proclamation focuses not only on the prevention of drinking and drugged driving, but the prevalence of “distracted driving” due to “electronic equipment and texting”. The Proclamation is a call for all individuals to practice safety by not getting behind the wheel impaired by alcohol and drugs, including those drugs prescribed by a medical provider.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the results of a nationwide survey related to impaired driving. The self reporting survey concluded that “In an average year, 30 million Americans drive drunk , 10 million drive impaired by illicit drugs.”

 

Thousands of people die due to the prevalence of drinking or drugged driving, and many innocent lives are shattered as a result.  The ramifications don’t end with injury or family loss. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies “the annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than 51 million dollars”.

 

“The Putnam County Communities That Cares Coalition is dedicated to preventive measures geared towards reducing the intake of alcohol and illicit drugs, especially to protect our youth.  This includes reckless or negligent behavior when using prescribed medication. This is not only a local priority, but a national concern as well. For drivers 15-19 years old involved in fatal crashes, 21 percent of the distracted drivers were distracted by the use of cell phones ” said Joseph DeMarzo, Deputy Commissioner of Putnam County Mental Health, Social Services and Youth Bureau.

 

“The prevention of debilitated driving, whether it is from substance use or distracted driving is imperative at any time. That being said, the holiday season is a time when more gatherings take place and traveling is sometimes inevitable. We encourage individuals to utilize public transportation should they drink or use medication. It will protect you, your family, and the community as a whole.” said Elaine Santos, Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition Coordinator.

 

Coalition Tips for Residents :

 

• Designate a sober driver before celebrations begin.
• Never serve those under the age of 21 alcohol.
• Plan safe parties, including providing non-alcoholic drink options to guests and not serving alcohol the last hour of the gathering.
• Be prepared to get everyone home safe in case your plans or individual circumstances change.
• Driving is a serious responsibility. Discuss what it means to be a safe driver with your teen and set ground rules for when they're behind the wheel. If your teen is on the road, they should stay off the phone.
• Remember:  It can wait! No text message is more important than your life (or another).

Don’t Let Impaired Driving Ruin Your Halloween

This year, Halloween falls on a Friday, and area police will be out on the roads looking for drunk drivers as part of an aggressive Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement effort.  Consider yourself warned: if local law enforcement catches you driving over the legal limit, you will be arrested.

“On Halloween, the real horrors occur out on the road when people choose to drive drunk,” said Joseph DeMarzo, Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition Co-Chairperson, and drunk driving is a choice—a preventable one. “We want to remind all Putnam County drivers that if you’ve had any alcohol to drink, you cannot drive. There are always other options: a designated, sober driver; a taxi, etc.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), from 2008-2012, almost half (51%) of all crash fatalities on Halloween night involved a drunk driver or motorcycle operator. During that 5-year period, there were 166 people killed in drunk-driving crashes on Halloween night. And on a night best-known for trick-or-treaters in the streets, it’s no surprise that pedestrians make up a tragic number of those fatalities. In 2012, 19 percent of the fatal pedestrian crashes on Halloween involved drunk drivers.

In every state, it’s illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher. Yet every year in the United States, thousands of people lose their lives to this reckless crime. In 2012 alone, 10,322 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver or motorcycle operator. Driving drunk costs lives and the other consequences can be costly as well. A DUI arrest costs $10,000 on average. Wouldn’t you rather spend a fraction of that on a sober ride home instead?

If you plan to drink on Halloween, plan now how you’ll get home. No costume can hide you from the police if you drive drunk, they’ll see you before you see them.”

This Halloween, the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign aims to save lives by reminding all drivers to follow these simple tips:

·         Before the Halloween festivities begin, plan a way to safely get home at the end of the night. If you wait until you’ve been drinking, —you’re more likely to make the wrong decision to drive drunk.

·         Always designate a sober driver.

·         If you are impaired, take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member.

·         Walking impaired can be just as dangerous as drunk driving.  Designate a sober friend to walk you home.

·         If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.

·         If you know someone who is about to drive or ride impaired, take their keys and help them make safe travel arrangements to where they are going.

For more information, please visit www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov. Members of the Putnam CTC Coalition are available if you have any questions or would like for us to do a presentation to your organization on this or any other substance abuse trends that affect our children.  Please visit and join us on Facebook by searching “Putnam County Communities That Care – NY” or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/PutnamCTCNY or call 845-225-4646.

Tips for Preventing Underage Drinking: For Parents During the Holiday Season

The Putnam County Communities That Care (CTC) Coalition is an anti-drug coalition that works to build a safe and healthy family-oriented community, which includes reducing the use of harmful substances by our adolescents. It is composed of individuals from all sectors of the community who work together to reduce risk factors and strengthen protective factors through education, enforcement and policy initiatives. As part of our mission to educate the community, we are posting this release as a way to provide you with information that you can share with your coaches, parents and participants. 

As parents take part in holiday festivities, it is of critical importance that they make healthy choices around the use of alcohol. According to a recently released report from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, “teens that have seen their parent(s) drunk are likelier to drink and get drunk than teens that have not seen their parent(s) drunk. They are also likelier to try cigarettes and marijuana”. 

Research has taught us time and again that active parents, voicing their disapproval of alcohol and other drug use, have proven themselves to be the most effective preventative method for keeping our children substance-free. A cohesive family with parents who model healthy decision making can make all the difference in helping young people to avoid antisocial behavior.

Holiday parties give individuals more of an opportunity to use drugs and alcohol.  This accounts for the increase in alcohol and drug related tragedies during the festive season.  

A few holiday party tips for parents:

• Lay down the law. Tell your child, prior to the party, that he or she is absolutely prohibited from drinking and using illegal substances.
• Be a model for conscientious behavior. Have a plan for those who drink too much and make sure your guests do not drink and drive.
• If you are hosting the party, offer an ample amount of non-alcoholic drinks, foods, and games to all.
• Children may drink leftovers. Dispose of all unfinished beverages to prevent alcohol poisoning.

• If your child is going to a party at a friend’s house, phone ahead and make sure there will not be any alcohol beverages available.

For more holiday safety tips, please visit: http://www.madd.org/media-center/media-library/safe-party-guide.html

To further reduce the prevalence of underage drinking, legislation has been passed in all Putnam County towns, entitled the “Social Host Liability” law, which makes it a crime to “host, suffer, permit, organize, or allow a party, gathering or event at his or her place of residence or other private property where three or more minors are present and alcoholic beverages are being consumed by any minor”. This crime is punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $3,000 fine. 

A 2012 survey of Putnam County students in grades 8 - 12 revealed that 44.6% of respondents believe that parental attitudes favor alcohol and drug use. What better way to end 2012 and begin 2013 than for parents throughout Putnam County to loudly and affirmatively voice their disapproval of alcohol and other drug use.

Members of the Putnam CTC Coalition are available if you have any questions or would like for us to do a presentation to your organization on this or any other substance abuse trends that affect our children.  Please visit and join us on Facebook by searching “Putnam County Communities That Care – NY” or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/PutnamCTCNY or call 845-225-4646.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!

The Putnam CTC Coalition is thankful to be able to serve Putnam County with alcohol and drug prevention activities throughout the year. We love this community. We wish you all a safe and happy holiday!

Drunk Driving Is a Deadly Problem This Fourth of July

GOAL/POSITIONING:  The goal is to warn people of the dangers and consequences of driving while impaired.  Impaired-driving crashes killed more than 10,000 people in 2010, accounting for 31 percent of all traffic-related fatalities in the United States.  That’s an average of one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality every 51 minutes.
That is why the Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition,  along with other highway safety, community, health and law enforcement officials, are reminding everyone this Fourth of July that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving and to designate a sober driver before the celebrations begin.

KEY MESSAGES:
During the July 4^th holiday, alcohol is a major factor in fatal crashes

• Impaired driving fatalities spike during nighttime hours. The proportion of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2010 was almost five times higher at night (6pm to 5:59am) than during the day (6am to 5:59pm) for the July 4^th 2010 holiday period (6:00pm July 2 - 5:59am July 6.) In fact, more than 80 percent of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities took place at nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.)

• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 392 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes during the Fourth of July holiday in 2010 (6:00pm July 2- 5:59am July 6.)  Of those fatalities, 39 percent were in crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.

• Alcohol-impaired-driving crashes killed 10,839 people in 2009, accounting for 32 percent of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.  That’s an average of one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality every 48 minutes.

• Beware: the rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2009 was four times higher at night than during the day.

Whether way too many or just one too many, it’s not worth the risk. Impaired Driving creates serious consequences.

• Alcohol impairs many of the skills that safe driving requires, including judgment, concentration, comprehension, coordination, visual acuity and reaction time.

• Driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal in every state. Yet many people still ignore the law. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, more than 1.44 million people were arrested for driving under the influence during 2009. 

• The tragedies and costs from drinking and driving impaired do not just end at the potential death, disfigurement, disability and injury caused by impaired drivers.

• Driving impaired or riding with someone who is impaired is not worth the risk. The consequences are serious and real. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be really significant and not the way you want to celebrate the July 4th holiday.

• People that break the law often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses from attorney fees, other fines and court costs, car towing and repairs, lost time at work, etc.

• This summer don’t let your 4th of July end in an arrest—or even worse, death. Make smart decisions. Plan ahead so you can ensure a safe way home.

• Remember: Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. Don’t drink and drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is sponsoring the campaign Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving which begins Sunday June 24, 2012 and continues through July 4, 2012. It encourages community members to practice safe driving practices on and around Independence Day.
Members of the Putnam CTC Coalition are available if you have any questions or would like for us to do a presentation to your organization on this or any other substance abuse trends that affect our children. Please call the National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependencies of Putnam at 845-225-4646, Ext. 13 for information and referrals. Please visit and join us on Facebook by searching “Putnam County Communities That Care – NY” or by searching Twitter at “PutnamCTCNY”.
 For more information, visit For more information, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/drivesober.

Happy Holidays from the Putnam CTC Coalition!

4th of July Message: Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving

Drunk Driving Is a Deadly Problem This Fourth of July

GOAL/POSITIONING: The goal is to warn people of the dangers and consequences of driving while impaired. In 2009, someone in the United States died in an impaired-driving crash every 48 minutes, according to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
That is why the Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition, along with other highway safety, community, health and law enforcement officials, are reminding everyone this Fourth of July that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving and to designate a sober driver before the celebrations begin.

KEY MESSAGES:
During the July 4th holiday, alcohol is a major factor in fatal crashes
Motor vehicle traffic crashes killed 410 people during the Fourth of July holiday period in 2009. Of that number, 40 percent involved a driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter or higher.

Alcohol-impaired-driving crashes killed 10,839 people in 2009, accounting for 32 percent of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. That’s an average of one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality every 48 minutes.
Beware: the rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2009 was four times higher at night than during the day.

Whether way too many or just one too many, it’s not worth the risk. Impaired Driving creates serious consequences.
 

Alcohol impairs many of the skills that safe driving requires, including judgment, concentration, comprehension, coordination, visual acuity and reaction time.

Driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal in every state. Yet many people still ignore the law. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, more than 1.44 million people were arrested for driving under the influence during 2009.

The tragedies and costs from drinking and driving impaired do not just end at the potential death, disfigurement, disability and injury caused by impaired drivers.

Driving impaired or riding with someone who is impaired is not worth the risk. The consequences are serious and real. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be really significant and not the way you want to celebrate the July 4th holiday.

People that break the law often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses from attorney fees, other fines and court costs, car towing and repairs, lost time at work, etc.

This summer don’t let your 4th of July end in an arrest—or even worse, death. Make smart decisions. Plan ahead so you can ensure a safe way home.

Remember: Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. Don’t drink and drive.
 

Members of the Putnam CTC Coalition are available if you have any questions or would like for us to do a presentation to your organization on this or any other substance abuse trends that affect our children. Please call the National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependencies of Putnam at 845-225-4646, Ext. 13 for information and referrals. Please visit and join us on Facebook by searching ―Putnam County Communities That Care – NY or by searching Twitter at ―PutnamCTCNY.

For more information, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org.