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Knowing the factsIn Florida, it is illegal for anyone under age 21 to drive with any alcohol in his or her system; a blood alcohol level (BAL) of.02 percent or higher can lead to a six-month driver’s license suspension. Driving with a BAL of .08, or under the influenceof any amount of alcohol and/or drugs, may result in a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrest.It is illegal for a person under the age of 21 to purchase or possess alcoholic beverages and for anyone to purchase orprovide alcohol for persons under the age of 21. Sale of alcoholic beverages to underage individuals is a second-degreemisdemeanor. Adults who allow underage drinking parties in their home can be arrested for violating the open house partystatute. Teens or young adults under age 21 using false identification (fake ID) can be charged with a felony.The$10,000drinkNo matter how you look at it, getting aDUI is a bad idea. What you might notrealize is the financial cost. Getting aDUI could take a big chunk out of yourpaycheck. The average costs (notincluding any costs for lost pay, personalinjuries, medical costs, vehicle damageor additional penalties for causing acrash while drinking) for a first-offensedrunken driving case are:Minimum fine:.......................................$390Penalty Assessment:..........................$666State Restitution Fund:.......................$100Alcohol-Abuse Education Fund:.........$50Blood- or Breath-Testing Fee:............$37Jail Cite-and-Release Fee:..................$10Driving/Alcohol-AwarenessSchool:...........................................$375(16 weeks minimum)License Reissue Fee:..........................$100Attorney Fees (average):................$2,500Auto InsuranceIncrease:......................$3,600 - $6,600(The Auto Club estimates $2,200 ayear for three years)Total....................................$7,828 - $10,828Source: Mothers Against Drunk DrivingAlcohol facts• Alcohol reduces alertness, interfereswith judgment and impairs vision.• It takes about one hour to cancel theeffects of one drink.• The probability of an accidentincreases with each drink.• Physical exercise, black coffee,fresh air, cold showers and other“remedies” do not effectively helpsomeone sober up.• The amount of blood alcohol in a oneounceshot of whiskey, three-ounceglass of wine and 12-ounce beer isthe same.• The significance of .10 percent BAL inrelation to driving impairment is thatthe probability of having an accidentis 7 ½ times greater than whensober – increasing to 25 times at .15percent BAL.• Alcohol is medically termed a drugand a depressant. The combineduse of alcohol and other depressantdrugs, such as antihistamines, maybe more dangerous to health and tohighway safety than the effects ofeither the alcohol or drugs alone.Source: Hillsborough County Sheriff’s OfficePrevention across theSuncoast regionTwenty provider organizationsare currently contracted to provideprevention programs and servicesthroughout the 11 counties of theSuncoast region. These providers workclosely with local community-drivenprevention coalitions in order to assistin the selection and implementation ofevidence-based programs, practicesand strategies to address the specificneeds of the communities they serve.The Suncoast region is host to 10anti-drug coalitions whose primarygoal is to ensure that their communitiesare safe, healthy and drug-free. Thesecoalitions have been trained in theSubstance Abuse Response Approach(SARA) and, as a result, producecommunity-level needs assessments,resource assessments and communityaction plans addressing a variety ofsubstance abuse problems, includingunderage drinking, prescription druguse/misuse, marijuana, adult bingedrinking and polysubstance use (multidrugcombinations). The substanceabuse prevention coalitions arecontinuously evaluating and updatingthe community action plans andworking with community partners toincrease awareness, educate thecommunity and work collaborativelywith service and program providersto reduce substance abuse in theSuncoast region.Suncoast region consequencesidentified:Alcohol-related crime and violence onschool campusesJuvenile crimeAlcohol-related automobile accidentsAlcohol-related fatalitiesDUI-related deaths and injuries“I lost family and friends, as well as my opportunity for education. I lost myspiritual connection with my higher power, my peace and my integrity. I losttouch with myself, and I lost my freedom. Through my recovery I regainedall these things and I am still gaining. I have found love and inspiration, and Ihave found pure joy in life.”— Samantha8 tampabay.com/nie
Suncoast region community actionplan goals:Reduce• Number of DUI-related automobile accidentsamong drivers 21-25 years of age• Alcohol-related incidents of crime andviolence on high school campuses• Rate of alcohol-related automobile accidentsamong drivers 19-25 years of age• Binge drinking in the 19-25 age group• Violent/harmful behaviors that are the resultof alcohol use• Number of persons that accept non-medicaluse of prescription drugs and self-medicationas safe• Number of admittances to emergencyrooms for previously undetected drug andpolysubstance-related causes• Number of adult (age 20-35 years)prescription drug deaths from unintentionalpoisoning• Youth deaths from the use of alcohol mixedwith prescription drugs• Retail access and availability of prescriptiondrugsIncrease• Use of evidence-based strategies to raiseparental/community awareness aboutunderage drinking and related antisocialbehaviors• Collaborative efforts between communitypartners• Community awareness of the effects ofalcohol use by youths• Support of enforcement to decrease alcoholavailability• Capacity to understand where youths aregaining access to alcohol• Capacity of epidemiology networks andassessment committees to collect and sharedata• Local doctor (clinic, primary care) knowledgeof laws regulating prescription drug sales• Community awareness (among parents,youths and key community leaders) of theeffects of alcohol use mixed with prescriptiondrug use by youths and increasedenforcement effortsCentral Florida Behavioral HealthNetwork Inc.All contracting for mental health, substanceabuse and substance abuse preventionservices with local provider organizations in theSuncoast region of Florida is facilitated throughthe Managing Entity, Central Florida BehavioralHealth Network Inc. (CFBHN), rather thandirectly with the Department of Children andFamilies (DCF). Working in partnership with DCF,CFBHN is a not-for-profit corporation basedin Tampa, whose primary goal is to ensure awell-organized and accountable system ofcommunity behavioral health care services.CFBHN contracts with 52 providerorganizations that offer a full array of mentalhealth and substance abuse treatment servicesin 11 counties to an estimated 105,000 people.The range of services provided includes acutecare, residential treatment, housing, medical,outpatient and recovery support services.The network also provides substance abuseprevention services to more than 170,000 at-riskchildren and adults.For more information on preventionprograms, plans and services; communityprevention coalitions; or events and activitiesaround the Suncoast region, contact RebeccaR. Todd, prevention program manager, CentralFlorida Behavioral Health Network Inc. atrtodd@cfbhn.org.learning with the times activityDriving under the influenceDriving under the influence of alcoholand other drugs is dangerous. Monitorthe Tampa Bay Times and tbt* for a fewweeks. How many people are reported tobe involved in DUI accidents or arrestsThink About ItSo what if I got drunk last night. I am okay now! Areyou? You are out partying with your friends: goodfriends, good times and a 12-pack of beer. You go tobed intoxicated with a blood alcohol level (BAL) of .18.Alcohol leaves the blood stream at .015 percent per hour.Time Action BALMidnight Go to bed .1801 a.m Sleep .1652 a.m. Stumble to the bathroom .1503 a.m. Sleep .1354 a.m. Sleep .1205 a.m. Sleep (still intoxicated) .1056 a.m. Wake for work .0907 a.m. Drive to work .0758 a.m. At work – still impaired .0509 a.m. Difficulty staying awake .03510 a.m. Sleep at desk .020Driver’slicensesuspensionfor minors)Noon Time for lunch no longerimpairedSource: Suncoast Safety Councilduring this time period? Based on whatyou read and see in your community,write down your thoughts about whypeople drive under the influence.Research alternatives to this behavior.tampabay.com/nie 89
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