DUI: A mistake that could destroy your life

1997
Originally published by Fairchild Connection (Fairchild AFB, WA)

It's not just illegal to drive drunk, it's also a crime to drive after drinking, period.

This is the message given by MSgt. Stewart Kaplan , superintendent of mental health services. "Because of the belief that it's okay to drive after drinking as long as you don't feel impaired, many people believe they are fine when in fact they are impaired. This flawed thinking leads to many charges of driving under the influence," Kaplan said. "This kind of thinking can be very dangerous."

Kaplan also found that the majority of drinking and driving and underage drinking were connected to the dormitories. He encouraged the use of individual squadron help lines and phone rosters, the Club Fairchild Designated Driver program, continual reminders before holidays, Airmen against Drunk Driving on call to give rides Friday and Saturday (247-9999), the 247-CARE line for impaired drivers, and the substance abuse clinic developed pamphlet "Don't Drive After Drinking."

In 1996, the number of DUIs rose from an average of 15 per year to 31 and the mental health substance abuse clinic conducted 111 evaluations with 31 due to DUIs involving underage drinking. Sixty-seven percent of all minor-in-possession evaluations were as a result of alcohol consumption in the dormitories. Military members under 21 make up 15 percent of Fairchild's population.

Thirty-three percent of all DUIs this year involved underage drinking. Nine of the 29 alcohol evaluations done by the substance abuse clinic this year were for underage drinking. If current trends continue, the clinic projects 116 total evaluations, of which 36 will be for underage drinking.

An average of 47 people are killed every day in the United States due to drunk drivers. Despite that frightening number, many people still drive after drinking, Kaplan said.

"Each of us can do something to help prevent more of these senseless tragedies," Kaplan said. "The first thing we can do is make a commitment to ourselves that we will not drive after drinking. That means one beer, or half a beer.

"That sounds extreme, but people will say anything to justify driving after drinking," Kaplan said. According to Kaplan, some of the more popular saying are "Just watch how much you drink, "don't drink more than one drink per hour," "one drink is not going to cause anyone to have an accident," "If I feel too impaired to drive, I won't," and "I don't have to go too far."

"What that really does is minimize the effect alcohol has on driving," Kaplan said. "Those are the people who think it's okay to drink and then make a decision after they've had time to let the alcohol impair their decision making ability. It means that 'It's okay to put my life and the lives of every other person on the roadways at risk and I don't care what impact my lack of responsibility has on anybody else."

In every case, a person's ability to drive is impaired from the first drink they take, with the first area being affected being the part of the brain that affects judgment and decision making ability as well as alertness, Kaplan said. "This occurs even at low alcohol levels," he added. "And they are by far the most critical skills we need in order to drive.

"If you've been drinking, even your reasoning that you still feel okay to drive cannot be trusted since your decision making ability is already impaired. Beyond the first drink, your vision, ability to coordinate muscular movements, and ability to react to sudden events are all impaired," he said.

Kaplan also pointed out the legal impact of drinking and driving, and that it can and will threaten and affect an Air Force career whether on or off base. He noted than on Fairchild and in Washington state, a person can be charged with DUI for a blood alcohol level as low as .05 percent. He noted it is punishable under Article 111 of the UCMJ with Article 15 penalties including a reduction in grade, a fine, and extra duties.

"There are too many alternatives to get caught up in that," Kaplan said. "We can use the squadron's programs, call those organizations, supervisors or coworkers who will provide rides, or we can choose not to drink. Whatever we decide, we have to live with our choice, and driving sober is a choice we can all live with."