Instructions for this report
 

    Impaired Driving
    On Ethno-Pharmacology
    Ethno-Pharmacological Evidence
    The Ecology of Drinking
    Monitoring Consequences
    Conclusion
    Navigation Table

IMPAIRED DRIVING
 

    Chapter 11 in Rothe's textbook discusses about drinking sites, impaired driving and Ethno-Paharmacology.  Rothe talks about impaired drivers to be classified into three types:

    1.)  the recidivists
    2.)  the chronics
    3.)  the first-timers

These three things that were classified goes in depth of the role pharmacology plays in the definition of impaired driving.  In the Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, pharmacology is defined as "The science of drugs, including materia medica, toxicology, and therapeutics:  their sources and properties, preparation, uses and effect (pg. 161)."  In this scenario alcohol is considered a drug due to its short and long term effects on driving.  There were researchers who studied the effects on drinking and driving.  These researchers studied hangover effects of alcohol on driving.  They also studied on blood alcohol concentration and the risk of accidents.  These researchers concluded anyone who exceeds .05 in the alcohol level will have a high risk in being involved in an accident because the person can't function well due to their poor motor and mental capabilities.  Breath analysis or blood sampling have been used to check whether the driver had too much to drink.  Pharmacological research in North America shows people who rated .0, .02, .05, .08, or 1.0 blood alcohol concentration levels.  There were programs instituted for the first-time offenders, recidivist impaired drivers or chronic alcoholic drivers.  An example of a program that is used is in Sacramento that is called "The Comprehensive Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Offenders Treatment Demonstration Project (pg. 162)."  This program was used for people who had two or more convictions for DUI.  An Ethno-pharmacological analysis of drinking is used to solve the epidemic in impaired driving.

ON ETHNO - PHARMACOLOGY

    Ethno-pharmacology is defined as, "people's commonsense knowledge or practical interest in the location of drinking, procedure of drinking, and possible impaired driving consequences.  The lenses are directed at the conditions drinkers prescribe to and endorse as factual in their attempts to drink and drive "rationally," that is in ways intended to maximize the likelihood of desirable outcomes (Stoddart, 1974) (pg. 163)."  Basically, in these pharmacological studies and analysis it talks about people's commonsense about alcohol and risks they take when driving.
 

ETHNO - PHARMACOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

    Data was done involving face-to-face interviews by citizens, and also with licensed bartenders and servers who were interviewed.  A telephone survey was also done, which included 854 people who were interviewed.  They reported to drink 1,432 times which they had been drinking at least once in the seven days.  441 out of 854 interviewers drove their car after drinking.
 

    Research shows that people in the West Coast claimed to drink more at private parties than in neighborhood bars.  They prefer drinking at parties rather at the bar because of spending limits, and that the atmosphere at bars are not too personal or intimate.  On the other hand, people who enjoy sports would watch the game on TV. at the bar and they would drink a couple of beers with a bunch of friends.  The chapter also talks about the person who drank the least would be chosen to be the driver.  The driver chose to drive because he/she felt likely to be less drunk.  If it was the case of an impaired driver who had a lot to drink he/she would have a high risk in getting into a fatal accident.  In this case the driver who had the least to drink would be risk-free in driving, and it would prevent people from endangering their lives when alcohol consumption in high.  The larger the group the longer the drinking rounds in a bar.  Pubs are more for the laid-back, soft music type of a place to hang out, whereas the bars play loud music and the people would watch sports on television.  It is more expensive at the pubs rather than at bars.  A common group in bars would always order a pitcher or a last round during last calls on drinks.  Mature people go to pubs, while the younger crowd would arrive later and have a quick drink before they hit the road.  People would drink more at home parties because you can stay there longer, whereas at the bar there is a certain time until it closes.  Women would be the designated driver during private parties for couples.
 

    In this section in the chapter Rothe talks about the consequences in drinking and driving.  In order for people to be responsible of their own actions, it is wise for them to have good judgement and commonsense when alcohol has an effect on them.  The common treatments that were used in sobering up before leaving a party is drinking coffee, another approach is avoiding the hard drinks such as vodka, whiskey, rum, but rather drinking beer or wine.  Another approach is not drinking one hour before driving.  Eating greasy food and drinking is another strategy.  It is reported in Canada (1987) that the blood alcohol concentration level (BAC) is absorbed on how fast the alcohol runs in the bloodstream.  When the rate of absorption is low the BAC level is decreased.  The blood alcohol concentration correlates with body weight, because blood volume is related to the body weight.  Shinar states, "A heavy drinker will suffer less driving impairment than a moderate drinker when both consume the same amount of alcohol per body weight (pg. 168)."  He also mentions that heavy drinkers drink more than moderate drinkers.  People would display control over their actions in the use of alcohol, but there is no way to estimate their alcohol content.
 

    In conclusion, drinking and driving is due to social and environmental factors.  The different places where people drink influence how much you drink.  Home parties people drink more than at the bars depending on the group of people your with.  The driver limit themselves on how much to drink.  People lack visual, perceptual, and mental abilities when alcohol consumption is high.  There are people now who are successful in drinking and driving, and it is a matter of commonsense and decision skills that the driver makes.