drugged driving

I know you have heard all the stories of people being killed by drunk drivers.  You may know someone who has been killed or who was behind the wheel after drinking.  You may even have one of those 'breath-a-lizers' put into your car to make sure you are sober before driving the vehicle.  But I am interested in letting you know of the newest trend - drugged driving.  In all honesty, it is very similar to drunk driving, but it refers to being under the influence of drugs while operating a vehicle.

It has been within the past twenty-five years that there has been a concerted effort to stop drunk driving, so it only seems fit that a new prevalent cause would spring up (NIDA).  Drugged driving, much like drunk driving, is a huge public safety risk.  In both instances, one's motor skills, reaction time and judgement may be impaired (NIDA).  It is important to mention, though, that unlike alcohol, drugged driving is much harder to enforce because of the lack of technology.  Unlike alcohol being traceable with an easy test of a person's BAC (blood alcohol content), determining current drug levels are a little more difficult (NIDA).  Regardless of it being more difficult to trace and a little harder to notice, drugged driving is a growing problem on the road ways, and little, known steps have been made like they have for drunk driving.

I would like to just give you a few statistics so you can understand this problem - that isn't so much as growing, but is not talked about, at all.  Just so you know:

• In 2007, one in eight weekend, nighttime drivers tested positive for illicit drugs (Whitehouse) 
• According to NSDUH (National Survey on Drug Use and Health), 10.5 million people aged sixteen and older reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs during the year prior to being surveyed (NIDA)
• Rates were the highest in Rhode Island (7.8%) and Vermont (6.6%)
• Rates were the lowest in New Jersey (3.2%) and Iowa (2.9%) (SAMHSA)
• 34% of motor vehicle crash victims admitted to a Maryland trauma center tested positive for 'drugs only' and 9.9% tested positive for drugs and alcohol (NIDA)
• Drugs, other than alcohol, are involved in about 18% of motor vehicle driver deaths - usually in combination with alcohol (CDC)
• Two-thirds (66.2%) of drugged drivers drove under the influence of illicit drugs and alcohol at the same time (SAMHSA)
• Driving under the influence of an illicit drug or alcohol is associated with age 
• 16 or 17 year old: 6.3% drove under the influence of illicit drugs and/or alcohol whereas the rate went to 24.8% of ages 21 - 25
• The rates declined as the ages increased after 25 (NIDA)

Along with drunk driving statistics, youth seem to be the most apt to be drugged and driving.  The most common types of drugs abused while driving, for teens, are alcohol, illicit drugs - mainly marijuana, and prescription drugs (Whitehouse).  Teens, ultimately are the least experienced drivers as well, coupled with this increased chance of impaired driving - an accident is waiting to happen.  But there are a few states that have implemented some type of policy to help combat this overlooked issue.

Seventeen states, Rhode Island included, "have passed 'per se' laws in which it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle if there is any detectable level of a prohibited drug, or its metabolites, in the driver's blood" (NIDA).  Of the seventeen with these laws, according to NSDUH, only two of them are ranked with in the top ten of the highest rates of drugged driving whereas only four are within the bottom ten (SAMHSA).  It is important to note that forty-four states, plus DC, have implemented Drug Evaluation and Classification Programs meant to train police officials as 'Drug Recognition Experts' (NIDA).  So even though the amount of policy or drugged driving is low, there are steps being taken to lower the rates.

In case you were not aware, December is the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention month.  The month is meant to celebrate life and keeping drugs and alcohol out from behind the wheel (US Dept of Justice).  Also, there are quite a few other programs meant to lower drunk and drugged driving.  it is important to diminish this issue - and the main way to do so is to inform.  Teens and parents need to be informed of the signs of drugged driving, drugs, and what potentially could happen if drugged and driving.  Adults, also, who are not parents should be informed as well.

You may not be driving the car, but you can just as easily be the victim.  Inform people of drugged driving and possibly save a life - it could be yours.  (Below are the responding links throughout the blog.  Please check them out!)

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/drugged-driving. NIDA - National Institute on Drug Abuse. Published December 2010.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/ondcp/issues-content/drugged_driving_toolkit.pdf. White House. Office of National Drug Policy - Toolkit.

http://www.samhsa.gov/data/2k12/NSDUH109/SR109StateEstDrunkDrugDriving2012.htm. SAMHSA, NSDUH. Published May 31, 2012.

http://www.cdc.gov/Motorvehiclesafety/Impaired_Driving/index.html. CDC. October 4, 2011.

http://blogs.justice.gov/main/archives/489. The United States Department of Justice. Published December 22, 2009.

https://www.ncjrs.gov/impaireddriving/prevention.html. National Criminal Justice Reference Center.

http://digitalcommons.law.wne.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1144&context=facschol

life changer.

Have you ever wanted to change things... in a big way?  And I don't just mean with your own personal life, but like truly affect the lives of others.  Have you ever wanted to be part of something that could change the minds of millions, give hundreds of children food, provide a roof over every homeless person's head?  Have you ever wanted to inform the masses with information that no one else will give them?  A radio, tv, a newspaper - none of it informs any more.  But have you ever wanted to be the "news" substitute?  I do.  I want to write, and inform people in a way that other people don't think is effective - unbias, true news that is not focused on sensationalism, but just on informing the masses of the truth.  Granted there would be a few things that I would choose to write about, only because of tastes and preferences, but that doesn't mean I think that the potatoes in Idaho is less important than the politics in NC - it is just what I prefer.  Nonetheless, I have given this a lot of thought, and I think I will write one blog a week on here where I just tell new stories.  I will try not to insert opinion, and will try to remain as unbias as possible.  I want a news outlet where people can learn without having to watch the newest febreeze commercial or being hounded by pointless hate campaign ads.  I have been influenced by the new tv show Newsroom, but in all honesty, I have always wanted to write.  I had a goal of being a political journalist when I was just entering college, and that was kind of just swept under the rug, but this is my chance.  This is my chance to see if I can do it.  I will be trying to connect this blog to the youtube collab channel that I am on - hopefully I will be able to freelance on my daily vlog.  That way not only will you get a blog, but you will actually be watching my news feed as well.  I look forward to this project and maybe, hopefully, it can get me jumpstarted into a mini career in journalism. Please, tell your friends and stay tuned to see my first news blog/vlog next week.  Post this on every social media website you have, and ask people to follow my blog.  I would really appreciate it!  I want to change lives, and I think you have to start small to make something big happen and that is what I plan on doing.

Thank you in advance for your support!

Bring it on life.

Hi everyone!
Well, who wants to talk about some changes.  I do, I do!  So the past month has probably been the most hectic, life altering month in my entire life.  Actually, I am sure of that statement - it has been.  First off, I met a guy who has to be the biggest breath of fresh air ever.  He is absolutely wonderful; he makes me realize things about life that I have forgotten to realize.  He is one of the only people that I enjoy talking to, one of the few that can make me smile when I am in a horrible mood, and the only person who I have met recently to make me feel like I deserve the world.  He is literally the best.  But shortly after we began talking (or whatever you want to call it), I had an interview.  The interview was with a company that I had been looking into for a while now.  Well, I got the job - which meant that I would have to move, and in turn leave the guy back home.  I am not going to lie, I was ecstatic that I got the job and I was able to secure an apartment and everything, but leaving him was torture.  It is hard to make decisions in life that you need to make knowing that a piece of you will be unhappy about the decision.  I was not turning down this job, nor the opportunity to move out of that shit town that I am from.  But, it was hard to say goodbye to a place and people that I have known my entire life, and to say goodbye to him.  Granted, it really isn't goodbye - hell he, and the town, is only 2 hours away, but it doesn't make it any less hard.  I have had many changes in the past month - job wise, location wise, but also emotionally and mentally.  I have grew and changed as a person in the past month more than I have in probably the past five years.  It is nice having my own place, and knowing that I will be responsible for my bills and what not.  It is a little overwhelming, but I have been looking forward to this for as long as I can remember.  Change is a great thing - the one thing that I actually look forward to.  Without change, life is stagnant.  I don't want to feel stuck in the mud.  I am excited to see what life will be bringing me now with all of these changes going on.  I am excited to see if what happens was expected or something that I never thought would happen.  I anticipate that life will be giving a bunch of new surprises, and I am so excited for them.  But for now I am just going to keep living and see what happens.  I am excited for the unknown and the possibilities - so I say bring it on life, I am ready for you. :)