A new study shows there has been a substantial increase in alcohol abuse since 2001
We need to educate the public, policymakers, and law enforcement about the scope of the problem According to a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry, increases in alcohol use, high-risk drinking, and DSM-IV AUD in the US population and among subgroups, especially women, older adults, racial/ethnic minorities, and the socioeconomically disadvantaged, constitute a public health crisis. Taken together, these findings portend a public health crisis. “Prevalence of 12-Month Alcohol Use, High-Risk Drinking, and DSM-IV Alcohol Use Disorder in the United States, 2001-2002 to 2012-2013&rdq[...]
Senate Bill would allow troops and vets to avoid conviction on Misdemeanor DUI offenses
This is really good news for vets! Condensed from an article that appeared in the San Diego Union Tribune that was written by Jeanette Steele. A bill in the Legislature would make it easier for U.S. military troops and veterans to avoid conviction on misdemeanor DUI offenses by completing a diversion program designed to help troops with emotional problems. Active-duty service members and vets who had driven under the influence of alcohol, drugs and other substances would receive treatment sooner. Senate Bill 725 gained unanimous support in the Senate. The full Assembly could vote [...]
Checkpoint for Escondido DUI
source: San Diego Union-TribuneApril 9, 2017Lyndsay Winkley at the San Diego Union-Tribune reported a DUI checkpoint in Escondido over the weekend. One driver was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and 23 citations were issued. The checkpoint was set up at Second Avenue and Broadway between 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 a.m. Sunday.Of the 1,447 drivers that passed through, 44 vehicles were sent to a secondary screening for failing to produce a driver’s license or for appearing to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Twenty-three drivers were ticketed for driving on a suspended license, driv[...]
San Diego Police will Target Marijuana DUIs with a new Swab Test
San Diego police have a new way to confirm the presence of marijuana and other drugs in impaired drivers — a mouth-swab device that is already being used by police departments in more than a dozen states and is expected to become more popular with the legalization of marijuana. It is the first technology of its kind to be used in San Diego County. The two Dräger DrugTest 5000 machines, which cost about $6,000 each, were donated by the San Diego Police Foundation last week. They are expected to debut Friday night at the St. Patrick’s Day DUI checkpoint downtown. The machine, abou[...]
A New Front on the War on Drugs?
Are we opening a new front on the War on Drugs? Defense attorneys in the state of California are a little concerned by proposed legislation from Senator Hill and Assemblymember Low. Their Bill would outlaw smoking pot while driving. To many it might make sense, but the devil is always in the details. First a little background. Currently, California motorists can be pulled over if they exhibit erratic or reckless driving on the state’s motorways. Given the fallible nature of field sobriety tests, a lot depends on the judgement of the officer and a motorist can still end up spending a night in[...]
