Did you know?
Alcohol is the drug most often associated with violence. Source: Cychosz,C.(1996)
Alcohol and interpersonal violence: Implications for educators. Journal of Health Education. 27(2), 7377.

Women & Substance   Abuse/ Addiction Issues and Women and known risks.

From MADD had an alcohol abuse problem or potential for such a problem. Given the rates of alcohol problems among chronic drunk drivers, treatment and rehabilitation programs should be an integral part of any strategy to combat the drunk driving

problem. We can no longer simply address the results or consequences of these problems, which all too often result in tragic deaths and serious injuries. We must also address the underlying problem, which may be associated with the behavior of these chronic drinking drivers. One of the primary goals of any sentencing or sanctioning strategy is reducing recidivism.

See all the Legislative Action for 2004 in Louisiana                                                See 2005

We want to end the risks facing too many in Louisiana, by addressing the root cause:  Go to Wednesday House Committee Bills and Member contact info to write and support our efforts!

The Problem with Louisiana's DWI Laws:

Effective treatment is key to reducing recidivism because, regardless of penalties imposed, sooner or later the offender will begin driving again. The only way to safeguard against an offender's return to drunk driving is treatment that produces changes in behavior and lifestyle.

More intoxicated, more likely to have a fatal crash
Drivers who have .15 BAC  or greater are at least 382 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than a non-drinking driver and thus are responsible for over half of all alcohol-related traffic fatalities.  Additionally, repeat offenders account for one-third of all DWI arrests. These drivers are a menace to themselves and everyone on the roads.  (Source: MADD National Website)

See related info from 2003 -Screen Treat Monitor Fact Sheet

Intervention/Treatment Standards:
Louisiana has an epidemic with alcohol abuse and alcoholism, resulting in a serious and deadly problem on highways.  Despite good research, and common knowledge among the public that Alcoholism is a disease, and that treatment works, alcoholism is still treated as a crime in Louisiana. Despite overwhelming need, there is only enough funding to OAD (Office for Addictive Disorders) to treat 8% of the adult population in need of substance abuse treatment.  In addition, very little private sector treatment is available (see SB 549 which will help increase treatment for those with health insurance)

Standards we suggest--should be suggested to continue (earlier at 1st and 2nd) the success of offering Treatment via a mandate to 3rd and 4th offenders which now show a 68% success rate for those mandated to attend treatment and this is total since the law went into effect http://www.hopenetworks.org/la_leg_2004/alcoho1.gif  a bill SB 679 by Senator Chaisson would end this success by changing the "mandate" to a "maybe" (shall to may changed in the law for treatment) this will eliminate the funding and therefore the treatment, as well as the positive outcomes you see in the chart.

Most people arrested for Drunk Driving, are in need of treatment they cant get!
Despite the knowledge that some 3/4 of the persons arrested in LA each year are suffering from an illness that requires medical treatment, in conjunction with criminal penalties, Louisiana has sought criminal sanctions only, and those advocating for DWI legislation in 2004 continue to solely address the "criminalization" of persons arrested for DWI.  This despite good research from NHSTA, MADD National, and NIAAA that a comprehensive approach is necessary to reduce recidivism. 

The problem is devastating for those who are innocent victims, they loose their loved ones, when many deaths could be prevented.  Clearly with more than 400 deaths in highway crashes involving alcohol, we need to stop those who are driving and literally not able to control their alcohol use/abuse/addiction.

Specifically the lack of knowledge that these individuals have an illness that does not allow them to "choose better" or "change their own behavior" and not pursuing every effort to make treatment, and recovery support available makes little sense.  In fact our current system literally acts as a disincentive for individuals to get treatment to end their cycle of unsolvable drinking and driving.

Louisiana has no effective solution to reduce the number of alcohol impaired drivers on our highways,  alcohol dependent persons, will continue to drive intoxicated, until treatment and recovery support is made available. Louisiana continues to lead the nation in deaths and injuries due to alcohol related crashes. Why? -  We have many criminal sanctions in place, so what is missing? 1.  There are no statewide alcohol screening, intervention, or treatment standards in place for 1st or 2nd offense DWI.  Despite a lack of funding for our public treatment system, individuals arrested are  mandated to pay fees and fines, that do not go to their need for an alcohol screening/assessment by a state credentialed substance abuse counselor--and we do find that the state can afford to incarcerate--which again is not an effective treatment for the root of problem. 2.  21,000 people are arrested each year for driving while intoxicated. 14,000 of these individuals are in need of medical intervention and or treatment for alcoholism ( a primary disease)(According to the CDC) Alcoholism is a chronic, often progressive disease with symptoms that include a strong need to drink despite negative consequences, such as serious job or health problems. Like many other diseases, it has a generally predictable course, has recognized symptoms, and is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors that are being increasingly well defined. Double click here to see the most recent progress of the only intervention/treatment mandates to state licensed substance abuse services in Louisiana's DWI Laws. What does MADD say in National Policy Suggest? First time offenders should have sentences that are designed to stop them from re-offending and repeat offenders/high BAC drivers should be dealt with seriously and should be required to receive intensive alcohol treatment. What Louisiana does: Conviction for a first offense carries a fine of $300 to $1,000 and 10 days to six months in jail. If the offender’s blood alcohol content is below .15 percent, the jail sentence can be reduced if the offender submits to probation, undergoes a court-ordered substance abuse program and takes classes in a driver improvement program. The offender can also reduce or avoid jail time by submitting to probation, performing four eight-hour days of community service, undergoing substance abuse treatment and taking driver improvement classes. What is needed:  (Court ordered substance abuse program-is the problem here, this is not a "judicial" issue but a medical issue, and the language should call for a Louisiana Credentialed Substance Abuse counselor to do the appropriate assessment and return it to the judge for use in sentencing based on those recommendations.) l       Many first-time impaired driving offenders — and most repeat offenders — have substantial substance abuse problems that affect their entire lives, not just their driving. However, such problems have neither prevented nor deterred these offenders from impaired driving. l       Diagnosis and Screening A systematic program should be in place to evaluate persons who have been convicted of an impaired driving offense to determine if they have an alcohol or drug abuse problem.  l      This evaluation should be: ¡     Required by law; ¡     Conducted by qualified personnel prior to sentencing; and ¡     Used to decide whether a substance abuse treatment program should be part of the sanctions imposed

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