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By dawn's early light an article caught my eye and begged for examination. Titled "What Everyone Needs to Know About Drunk Driving Accidents," it leaned heavily on statistics from an agency I had never heard of:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
So I looked up SAMHSA and found it to be part of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
- http://prevention.samhsa.gov/
According to SAMHSA, the worst states for drunk driving are:
* Wisconsin (over 26 percent of residents drove drunk in the past year)
* North Dakota (25 percent)
* Minnesota (24 percent)
* Nebraska (23 percent)
* South Dakota (22 percent)
... and for those driving under the influence of illicit drugs, the worst states were:
* The District of Columbia (7 percent)
* Rhode Island (7 percent)
* Massachusetts (6 percent)
* Montana (6 percent)
* Wyoming (6 percent)
Utah had fewest drunk drivers - only 9.5 percent acknowledging such behavior.
Substance abuse and driving are two behaviors which are not meant to occupy the same place, or person, and anyone who cares about someone who does both at the same time has every right to take away that person's keys, take away their car - not to keep the keys or car, but to keep the abuser, hopefully.
Better yet that someone in family or community build a fence around the abuser and let him graze out there until he gets it straight in his head that driving impaired is not only dangerous to his own health and longevity, but is potentially deadly to innocent individuals whose rights are every bit as precious as his own, and until he does get it straight, he is not even as valuable as a pack mule to his family, friends and community.
The article conveys a clear message about SAMHSA campaigns against drunk driving which "are helping to spread the word about the consequences of driving while under the influence," and strengthens that message with enough statistics to sober even the worst of abusers, meant also to scare you and me into submission - as is the proper role of any government agency or agenda.
STOP THE CAR ! This is where I get out !
I have travelled this road so many times I can do it on a moonless night with no headlights, and yes, you have to be sober and wide awake to do that, but here I am with another hand in my pocket fishing for more money and I ain't doin' that.
If you want to post the Ten Commandments or if you want to follow the Holy Qu'ran is up to you, but I remind you:
BOTH books say "Do Not Steal"
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Contributor's Note
Agree or disagree, I hope you will join our discussions.
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