Transcript Alcohol and Other Drugs

Drinking
and
Driving
Driving under the influence of
intoxicating beverages means…
A driver’s senses and judgment are
impaired by alcohol.
ALCOHOL
o Myths about Alcohol
o The Effects of Alcohol
- Mental
- Physical
o Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
- Factors that Affect BAC
o Laws and Penalties for DUI
- Implied Consent
o Field Sobriety Test, Breathalyzer
MYTHS about ALCOHOL
MYTH: Everyone drinks…
TRUTH: 31% of teens said that they
drank alcohol within the last month,
which means 69% have NOT.
If you don’t drink…
YOU are the majority.
MYTHS about ALCOHOL
MYTH: Alcohol gives you energy…
TRUTH: Alcohol is a depressant; it slows
down your motor skills and makes you
sleepy.
It is NOT a stimulant.
MYTHS about ALCOHOL
MYTH: Drinking coffee, taking a cold
shower, or exercising can sober
someone up who has been drinking…
TRUTH: The only thing that can sober
someone up who has been drinking is
TIME.
MYTHS about ALCOHOL
MYTH: Beer is not as intoxicating
as hard liquor…
TRUTH: A serving of beer has the same
amount of alcohol as a serving of hard
liquor.
12 oz. of beer =
5 oz. of wine =
1.5 oz. of hard liquor
MYTHS about ALCOHOL
MYTH: I can control myself
when I drink…
TRUTH: Drinking impairs your judgment
and can make you do things you will later
regret, such as…
Having unprotected sex or
getting into a fight
MYTHS about ALCOHOL
MYTH: Drinking alcohol is not dangerous…
TRUTH: 33% of 18 to 24 year olds who
are admitted to emergency rooms with
serious injuries are intoxicated.
Alcohol is associated with homicides,
suicides, and drownings.
PHYSICAL EFFECTS of
ALCOHOL
o Loss of muscle control and coordination;
motor skills become sloppy.
o Decreased ability judge distance and speed
o Loss of balance
o Decrease in reaction time
o Blurry/double vision
o Slower reaction of the pupils to adjust to
headlights while driving at night
MENTAL EFFECTS of
ALCOHOL
o Decrease in judgment and reasoning
o Inhibitions are lessened (you do things
you would not normally do while sober)
o Inability to think clearly (lack of
concentration)
o Impaired memory and blackouts
The 4 Factors that Determine
BAC
1. Quantity of alcohol consumed
2. Body Weight
3. How quickly drinks were consumed
4. Amount of food eaten
Drink Volume
% of Alcohol
Amount of Alcohol
12 ounces of beer
5%
.60 ounces
5 ounces of wine
12%
.60 ounces
1½ ounces of whiskey
40%
.60 ounces
Number of Drinks
(in one hour)
BAC Range
Approximate Time
to Eliminate Alcohol
.02 - .03%
1 ½ hours
.04 - .06%
3 hours
.05 - .09%
4 - 5 hours
.08 - .12%
5 - 7 hours
Number of Drinks (in 1 hour)
BAC
Effects
.02 - .03%
Inhibitions are lessened.
Judgment and reasoning
begin to be affected.
.05 - .09%
Unable to think clearly.
Judgment and reasoning
are not reliable. Muscular
coordination is impaired.
.10 - .12%
After 4 drinks, hearing,
speech, vision, and balance
are affected as well.
1 serving
3 servings
4 servings
Under the Influence???
If you are 21 years old or older you are
“Under the Influence” if your BAC is at
least 0.08%
If you are under 21 years old you are
“Under the Influence” if your BAC is at
least 0.01%
ZERO TOLERANCE
Implied Consent Law
New Jersey motorists agree to submit to
a breath test following an arrest for a
drinking-and-driving offense.
Refusal will result in
a penalty of driving
with a BAC of
0.10%
Penalties for Underage DUI
o 15 to 30 Days
Community Service
o 30 to 90 Days
License Suspension
o Participation in an Intoxicated Driver
Resource Center (IDRC)
Prescriptions Drugs
Prescription drugs can be considered
“illegal” if not taken as it is prescribed,
or if you are taking a prescription drug
that is prescribed to someone else.
Some prescriptions may cause dizziness
and/or drowsiness, so you should NOT
get behind the wheel!
Other Drugs
o Depressants: decrease reaction time, lack of
coordination
o Stimulants: can cause a false sense of
awareness; when the drug wears off, users
become very tired, very quickly
o Hallucinogens: can cause aggression,
drowsiness, loss of balance, and loss of
coordination
** You can still be under the influence even
after you think the effects have worn off. **