Harsher Punishments for Drunk Driving

...

taken care of immediately. We can’t keep losing our future generation due to the lack of knowledge and carelessness.

A lot of D.U.I cases are more than just going out to a party, and having a drink or two and driving home. Many causes behind drunk driving can be alcoholic addictions, such as alcoholism or alcohol dependence, and even in some cases, alcohol poisoning. Alcoholism can be diagnosed as a disease or an addiction, depending on who you ask. Many causes of alcohol dependence can be caused by having mental complications or being unable to cope with their environment. Day to day, alcoholics face a daily battle of when and where they are going to get their next drink. Some alcoholics can be very functional and you could look them dead in the eye and couldn’t even tell that something is bothering them. Research shows that teens who chose to drink at a young age are more at risk of developing into heavy drinkers who can lead an alcoholic life in their later years (Mendralla).

Alcoholics cannot face their addiction alone, and that’s why they desperately need help. There are tons of options for getting alcoholics the help that they need to beat this addiction. Whether it’s through family support, counseling, rehab, social services, support groups, and even hospitalization, they can conquer their addictions. It is most important that they cannot be left alone because they need all the help they can get. Alcoholism can lead to alcohol poisoning, which is consuming too much alcohol too quickly and not allowing your body enough time to get rid of the toxins and it shuts your inner organs down and you eventually die. Alcohol plays a huge role in today’s society, but if it is taken for granted and abused it can tear families apart in an instant.

This is why getting help for those who desperately need it is a huge priority for teens. Because having that one drink can lead to a complete different lifestyle of that teen’s life. All it takes is one drink and that teen is exposed to the possibility of developing early stages of alcohol dependence.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a major health problem in the United States which calls for harsher punishments such as: increased fines with longer suspensions, acknowledging the tremendous risks, and providing help for repeat offenders. Teens have plenty of challenges to face throughout their daily lives, and alcohol and drugs are a major factor especially in their high school years. It’s going to take some time but we will overcome the battle on drugs, alcohol and teenagers, we will win.

.

Works Cited

Beasley, David. "U.S. teen drinking and driving rate cut in half in 20 years." Chicago Tribune.

n.p. 2 October 2012. Web. 16 September 2015.

Cowely, Jerry. Personal Interview. 9 September 2015.

"Drunk Driving." ODDR. ODDR, n.d. Web. 16 September 2015.

Johnson, Teddi. "Distracted driving: Stay focused when on the road." The Nation’s Health. n.p.

n.d. Web. 16 September 2015

Lang, Alan R. Alcohol: Teenage Drinking. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1984. Print.

Mendralla, Valerie. Drinking and Driving, Now What? New York: Rosen Publishing, 2012.

Print.

Merino, Noel. Underage Drinking. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc, 2007. Print

Wekesser, Carol. Alcoholism. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc, 1994. Print

...