December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. With parties and events centered around traditional holidays, impaired driving increases during this time. Organize sober events and learn strategies to remain drug-free. At Red Oak Recovery in Asheville, North Carolina, we have addiction treatment programs that can change your life and make the holiday is even brighter this year.
Isn’t it time to give yourself the gift of clean living? Experts report that drunk driving accidents killed dozens of people every day. Don’t become one of the people that die every hour during a time of celebration. Observing Impaired Driving Prevention Month can reduce billions of dollars in damages due to impaired driving crashes.
National Impaired Driving Prevention Month
National Impaired Driving Prevention Month can save lives during the holiday season. You can still spend time with family and friends without drinking or using drugs. However, you might want to avoid parties and get-togethers where alcohol is available.
Make smart decisions when it comes time to choose which friends you will hang out with in December. If you go out for dinner, volunteer to be the sober driver. Those with a history of impaired driving can choose a restaurant that doesn’t have alcoholic beverages or plan activities that give guests plenty of things to do besides drinking.
At Red Oak Recovery in Asheville, NC, our young adult rehab programs can help you learn how to cope with cravings and avoid a relapse over the holidays.
History of National Impaired Driving Month?
National Impaired Driving Month began in 1981. Since then, December has become a time to encourage sobriety and drug-free living. Many state and local organizations hold events to spread awareness of the dangers of impaired driving. They hope to decrease the number of drunk or drugged driving-related deaths over the winter break through awareness efforts.
Candy Lightner lost her young daughter, Cari Lightner, to a drunk driving accident in 1980. The person behind the wheel had just received a fine for a hit-and-run one week earlier. This repeat offender had a history of impaired driving when he hit the teenager, who was just 13 years old. At the time, impaired driving laws fell under misdemeanors in most states and often didn’t even result in jail time.
Candy Lightner decided to take action to make sure no other parent had to go through this again. She started Mothers Against Drunk Driving or MADD to rally support for stricter penalties for impaired drivers. Partially due to the group’s efforts, Ronald Reagan raised the legal drinking age to 21 nationwide.
Prevent Impaired Driving Accidents
Follow these tips to observe National Impaired Driving Prevention Month this December:
- Take the bus, order a cab, or ask a friend for a ride if you drink or use drugs.
- Ask a designated driver to get everyone home safely.
- If you want to drink, stay at home or spend the night.
- Don’t let friends get behind the wheel after drinking too much.
- Call a rideshare company or cab for friends under the influence.
Our dual diagnosis treatment program at Red Oak Recovery addresses co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Addiction Treatment at Red Oak Recovery
Red Oak Recovery can help you avoid future impaired driving incidences. To learn more about National Impaired Driving Prevention Month or begin the enrollment process, contact us at 866.457.7590 today. Whether you call for yourself or a loved one, we can help you understand our addiction treatment programs. Our amazing staff and licensed therapists can help your family get through the holidays and start the new year with a fresh perspective.
