December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

December 2010

By presidential proclamation, December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. This month seems particularly suited to this observation because traffic fatalities that involve impaired drivers increase significantly during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday periods.[i] But impaired driving is a roadway hazard that exists throughout the year. In 2009, nearly 11,000 people were killed in crashes involving impaired drivers[ii]—or about one death every 49 minutes. As a Nation, as communities, and as individuals, we need to take stronger action to help ensure that our roads and those who drive on them remain safe throughout the holidays and every day.

In an average year, 30 million Americans drive drunk, and 10 million Americans drive drugged. SAMHSA’s new survey on impaired driving, State Estimates of Drunk and Drugged Driving, found that nationally 13.2 percent of all people aged 16 or older drove under the influence of alcohol and 4.3 percent drove under the influence of illicit drugs during the past year. Some States recorded rates of drunk driving higher than 20 percent.

Furthermore, rates of impaired driving differed dramatically by age. While 11.8 percent of people aged 26 and older drove drunk, 19.5 percent of people aged 16 to 25 drove drunk. While 2.8 percent of the older group drove drugged, 11.4 percent of younger drivers did so.

President Barack Obama has made combating drugged driving a priority of drug control and has set a national goal of reducing drugged driving prevalence by 10 percent by 2015. To help achieve this goal, SAMHSA is working with the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the National Institute of Drug Abuse to develop standard screening methods to help detect the presence of drugs among drivers. SAMHSA also is advancing its primary strategic initiative: to prevent substance abuse and mental illnesses by creating prevention-prepared communities that can reduce the likelihood of these often-related problems and their consequences.

In issuing his proclamation, President Obama asked all Americans “to recommit to preventing the loss of life by practicing safe driving practices and reminding others to be sober, drug free, and safe on the road.” Talk openly about this issue and set a good example for others, especially young people, by making “one for the road” a nonalcoholic beverage. For evidence-based approaches on preventing underage drinking, visit the Too Smart To Start and Stop Underage Drinking Portal of Federal Resources Web sites.

SAMHSA wishes a safe and healthy new year in 2011 to all.


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[i] National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2007). Fatalities related to alcohol-impaired driving during the Christmas and New Year’s Day holiday periods. Traffic Safety Facts. From

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810870.PDF (accessed December 16, 2010).

[ii] National Criminal Justice Reference Service, U.S. Department of Justice. (2010). Impaired driving. From http://www.ncjrs.gov/impaireddriving (accessed December 16, 2010).

MFT CEUs

Stress Less during the holidays

Too often, the holiday season is a very stressful time, followed by a post-holiday letdown that can take us the rest of the winter to recover from. Learn more about the causes of holiday stress and what you can do to avoid it. MFT Continuing Education
Causes of holiday stress
Many factors can contribute to holiday stress. Some of the most common include:

•Too much of a good thing: eating, drinking and spending too much. An overabundance of parties and gift-giving may lead people to eat, drink and be merry – often to excess. Overindulging in rich foods, alcohol and spending can burden many people with the additional stress of dealing with consequences (weight gain, memories of embarrassing behavior and debt) that linger after the season is over.

•Family fatigue: too much togetherness. The holidays are a time when families tend to gather. While this can be a wonderful thing, even the most close-knit families can overdose on togetherness, making it hard for family members to maintain a healthy balance between family-time and alone-time.

•Not enough togetherness. For those who don’t have family, loneliness can be just as difficult. When everyone else seems to be getting together with family, those who rely more on friends for support can feel left out and alone.

•SAD can make you sad. As daylight diminishes and the weather causes many of us to spend more time indoors, many people are affected to some degree by a type of depression known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It’s a subtle, but very real condition that can be a source of stress and unhappiness during a time when people expect to feel just the opposite.

Minimizing holiday stress

Unlike many other types of stress, holiday stress is predictable. We can make plans to reduce the amount of stress we experience and the impact it has on us. Here are some tips to help you reduce holiday stress:

•Set your priorities. The flurry of baking, shopping, sending cards, visiting relatives and other activities can leave you exhausted by January. Pick a few favorite activities and really enjoy them. Skip the rest.

•Cut corners. If you can’t imagine the idea of skipping all some of the activities that usually run you ragged, find ways to simplify. For example, only send cards to those you’re in regular contact with or don’t include a personal note in each one.

•Watch your finances. Before you go shopping, plan a reasonable budget for holiday spending. Then, stick to your budget. King County’s Making Life Easier Program can help. The program offers financial consultation on issues such as budgeting and financial planning and 8 free counseling sessions with a licensed professional per problem per year.

•Change your expectations for togetherness. Think back to previous years and try to pinpoint the amount of togetherness with family and friends you can handle before feeling stressed out. Then, look for ways to minimize the stress. Try limiting the number of parties you attend or the time you spend at each. Or, reduce the time you spend with family to an amount that will feel special without leaving you exhausted.

•Nurture your heart. If holidays tend to make you feel lonely or depressed, make plans to meet with a friend, spiritual leader or counselor to get the support you need. If virtually everyone you know is with family during the holidays, consider volunteering to help others. Helping others can be rewarding and help fill the void you may be feeling.

•Take care of yourself. Your holiday plans should include steps to take care of your physical and emotional health. Remember to get enough sleep and eat nutritiously. Also, be sure to exercise daily if possible. Exercise and exposure to daylight can help reduce or even eliminate the symptoms of SAD.