LEWISTON — With the holiday season in full swing, Healthy Androscoggin would like to remind people of the risks and consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. This is a month where many people will be planning or attending holiday parties where alcohol will be served. Many attending these gatherings will make healthy choices and not drive under the influence; unfortunately others will make risky choices and chance driving while impaired. Countless times this has led to tragedy and loss of life.

Nationally, more than 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics in 2010. That’s one percent of the 112 million self-reported episodes of alcohol-impaired driving among U.S. adults each year. Over 10,000 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for nearly one-third of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. Sadly, in this same year, more than 200 children lost their lives in a traffic accident involving alcohol. Half of those were riding in the vehicle being driven by someone under the influence.

The people who are most at risk for accidents when it comes to impaired driving are young drivers, motorcyclists and drivers with prior DWI convictions.

Incidents of impaired driving are not limited to alcohol. According to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 10.5 million people aged 12 or older reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs during the year prior to being surveyed. Drugs other than alcohol, such as marijuana, cocaine and others, are involved in about 18 percent of motor vehicle driver deaths.

Prescription drugs, whether they are being abused or even taken in medically safe doses, can end up impairing a driver and causing accidents. It is crucial for patients to carefully read the labels of the medicines they are taking and fully understand whether it is safe or not to drive a vehicle after taking that drug.

Healthy Androscoggin reminds everyone to plan responsibly for the holidays. If you decide you are going to drink at the party, have a designated driver to get you home safely. If you are arriving alone, have the phone numbers of taxi services programmed on your phone. The bottom line is if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, do not drive. 

For more information on drunk and drugged driving, go to www.healthyandroscoggin.org.