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 The availability of alcohol within a community can influence drinking rates and related problems (Drug Strategies, 1999)


Action Alert 2004
When and Where:  Louisiana State Capital -Senate Committee on Judiciary C
April 14, 2004 1:30 PM Room A-B----We will Attend this Hearing. Call if you are going to join us 225-806-8552.

IMPAIRED DRIVING IN LOUISIANA  -DWI If you support Recovery-Prevention-Treatment Plan to attend and speak up!

It is estimated that one of every seven adults is a problem drinker and thus a potential alcohol impaired driver. We believe everyone arrested on a DWI charge should be screened for underlying alcohol problems.
NCADD

--Amazingly--Even with our extreme DWI Problems in Louisiana we have no standards at all for Alcohol Abuse-Alcohol Dependence Screening/Referrals for Treatment for those 1st and 2nd DWI Arrests/Convictions- How can we ever hope that those driving with alcohol problems will stop when they need help that they can't get in our current system?
E-Mail and Call  the members of the Senate Judiciary C Committee Members 

Tell the Senate Judiciary Committee Members by phone-fax-email :

  1.  You would like them to oppose SB 103 and SB 679--which, if passed, will reduce current mandates to treat 3rd and 4th offenders which we know are working to reduce recidivism and related costs for incarceration! (68% of those treated under 3rd and 4th offense remain sober, one year after treatment. This just makes good economic sense to keep what is working and expand treatment to early offenders, thus making our roads more safe!
 
Bill Summaries:
Louisiana State Senate Committee on Judiciary C
DUPRE
DWI - Increases penalties for third and fourth offense of driving under the influence and authorizes the court to impose immediate sanctions on offenders during home incarceration.
SB679 CHAISSON CRIME/PUNISHMENT - Provides with respect to criminal penalties for third, fourth, and subsequent DWI offenses.

2.  Tell them you oppose increasing criminal penalties for those who need treatment and the you also oppose the costs for incarceration, not proven to reduce DWI recidivism in Louisiana.

3.  Ask them to support expanding the success of treatment and support early intervention and appropriate referral for 1st offense and any subsequent offense DWI

Tell them Treatment Works and is a proven effective solution for DWI
Treatment  Reports show that currently  68% of those treated are remaining sober one year after completion of their treatment plan.  Reducing both costs and harms to our communities.

Tell them the

American Medical Associations Policy on DWI and Screenings--Urges all states to pass legislation mandating all drivers convicted of first and multiple DWI offenses be screened for alcoholism and provided with referral and treatment when indicated, and that is the amendment we wish to see added to any DWI bills in our state.

Of the 21,000 arrested for DWI last year alone it is estimated that 14,000 need medical treatment for alcohol abuse/alcoholism and we have no way to identify those persons or screen and treat them today.
Report for Louisiana 3rd and 4th offenders showing progress in reducing recidivism
Report from OAD Treatment is working for DWI offenders....

We need to move Louisiana law makers forward in supporting treatment and recovery support.  Clearly this is saving money we would be spending for incarceration not to mention the lives that are being saved, and highway crashes and fatalities being prevented. 

Our Request:

 
1. Amendments to current proposed DWI-legislation mandating all drivers convicted of first and multiple DWI offenses be screened for alcoholism and provided with referral and treatment when indicated by a Louisiana State Board Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (this creates a standard that does not exist in our current DWI law and is vital effective interventions for problem drinkers by providing valid screenings/assessments to those in need and appropriate referral if any)

 
Information on Alcohol Abuse-Dependence

Alcohol abuse and dependence (Alcoholism) is a serious problem in Louisiana.  Alcohol is the most abused drug in the state.  Consequences of untreated alcoholism are harming innocent people on our highways and in our communities.  Locking up "sick" people or those in need of treatment is not a solution for our states 14,000 DWI arrests each year that meet the criteria for alcohol abuse/dependence.
 
Treatment was mandated in a bill by Representative Odinet, and the outcomes are showing a reduction in recidivism, and a savings to Louisiana tax payers-- (even though the mandate is for 3rd and 4th offenses) 

Treatment saves money and lives

Dr. Loren Scotts's report for the State of Louisiana shows we save $5 for every $1 we spend to treat substance abuse.



 
 


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