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In 2022, December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. The Objective of this observation day is to help the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) reduce driving fatalities. Since motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and nonfatal injury among U.S. adolescents, National Impaired Driving Prevention Month is necessary. The goal is to promote safety over the holiday season. Hopefully, such a promotion of safety lasts year-round. Indeed, safer driving means safer roads.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), impaired driving results in approximately 2,500 deaths and 300,000 nonfatal injuries of adolescents each year. The NHTSA started the “Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving” campaign to address the problem of driving while intoxicated. Moreover, drugs also affect driving in the same negative fashion, including marijuana, opioids, methamphetamines, or prescribed or over-the-counter medications.

TTC and National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

As a provider of substance use disorder services for adults and youth, Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) fully supports these efforts. With a long history of promoting prevention measures in our respective communities, TTC makes such prevention efforts an ongoing priority. However, education and raising awareness in schools and meetings with young people are not enough. Ultimately, prevention starts in the home. Thus, parents and caregivers must make adolescents aware of the dangers of buzzed driving.

In his proclamation about National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, President Biden highlights the dangers of the holiday season: “During this holiday season especially, let us remember all those we have lost to impaired driving and take simple steps to save lives. I encourage every American to plan how you will get home after drinking and ensure that if you have used any substance, you never get behind the wheel. Ride-share apps make it easier than ever to stay safe. And whenever you see loved ones or colleagues putting themselves or others at risk, step up to offer a hand. Lives depend on it.”

Live Depend On It – Buzzed Driving Equals Drunk Driving

During the holidays, people are more likely to ignore a little buzz. After all, Dad is having a good time and is on vacation. A few drinks at the party are okay over the holidays. However, a few drinks by Dad often result in buzzed driving. The NHTSA underscores the point: Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. If Dad drinks more than one spiked eggnog, time to pick a different driver.

With more officers on the road, there is a good chance that Dad gets a ticket and, maybe, even goes to jail. Going to jail is not the worse outcome. The worse outcome is a crash where people lose their lives. Imagine a loved one losing their life in a drunk driving accident. There is no reason for such a loss to happen. Over the holiday, drunk driving crashes happen way too often.

Therefore, President Biden ends his proclamation by saying, “I urge all Americans to make responsible decisions and take appropriate measures to prevent impaired driving.” In the end, National Impaired Driving Prevention Month is about preventing tragedies. When it comes to integrated healthcare, such a perspective aligns with TTC’s core philosophy. Preventing a bad thing from happening is always better than providing effective treatment after it happens. After all, effective prevention saves lives.