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December is “National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month,” an initiative that started as a weeklong awareness effort in 1982 under President Ronald Reagan.
It is easy to see why support for National 3D Prevention Month has grown since then. Some 41 percent of traffic crashes are related to alcohol or drug use, and these accidents kill 17,000 and injure around 600,000 Americans each year (Source: NHTSA 2003).
What can you do to help combat this crisis and make sure that you don’t become a statistic? Get involved with efforts spearheaded by the National Commission Against Drunk Driving (NCADD), a broad-based coalition of public and private sector organizations and other concerned individuals who work together to reduce impaired driving. NCADD believes that everyone arrested on a DWI/DUI charge should be screened for underlying dependency problems, and recommends ignition interlocks and mandatory substance abuse treatment for repeat offenders. (Visit www.ncadd.com for more information.)
Protect Yourself and Others
The NCADD offers the following suggestions to people who want to help fight impaired driving.
- Always wear your safety belt and be sure children are properly secured in child safety seats.
- Be a responsible host, especially during the holidays. Serve food and have non-alcoholic drinks available. Collect car keys at the outset and don’t return them if you suspect a driver is impaired. Provide designated drivers.
- Never ride in a car with a driver who has been drinking.
- Support measures to strengthen drunk driving and victims’ rights laws by contacting elected officials.
- Report drunk drivers immediately.
Get the Help You Need
TRICARE offers important behavioral health benefits for those who abuse alcohol or drugs, so don’t hesitate to seek treatment if you think you and/or a family member has a problem. Covered treatments include selected hospital and rehabilitation stays, outpatient care, and more. Treatments are subject to prior authorization requirements and other qualifiers, so work with your TRICARE provider to assess and implement the best treatment strategy for your situation.
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