12-30-08

Drunk driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs kills about 17,000 people in the United States annually. 

Each year, in Illinois there are more than 600 deaths due to alcohol-related accidents.  Ronald Kanwischer, assistant professor of psychiatry and substance abuse counselor at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, explains the alcohol level at which drivers are considered intoxicated.

SOUND BITE: “. . . throughout the U.S., it’s .08 (point-zero-8) that is the level we consider as legally impaired.  Of course, you can be impaired at less than that.  It’s all about how alcohol affects your particular abilities to do complex behaviors like operating an automobile.   Now for the average person it takes about 4 drinks – average male, drinking in one hour to reach the level of intoxication.  For women it is actually less than that.”  

Kanwischer says there are serious legal consequences for driving under the influence.  The most serious charges can carry a fine, which can be very expensive.  If the driver hurts another person, they can be sentenced to jail or even lose their license.  He advises people to drink slowly to help decrease the effects of the alcohol on the brain.

SOUND BITE: “If you consume one drink an hour, the blood alcohol level will drop and stay pretty low.  It takes your body about an hour to get rid of a drink so if you consume one over the course of one hour, by the time you’re done, it’s probably going to be gone and then you can have another one.  Never drink on an empty stomach.  That’s another thing, You want some sort of food to absorb the alcohol . . .”

Kanwischer says cheese and crackers are the best choices to absorb the alcohol.  He urges people to celebrate responsibly.  If someone has a drinking problem, they should see their primary care physician or mental health counselor.

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.