The Coalition Against Drunk Driving

Saving Lives Through Treatment and Public Health Strategy

Why Change The Approach to Drink Driving

For too long drink driving and driving while under the influence of other substances have been treated as criminal matters or matters where fear crafted through shocking commercials can drive individuals to change their behavior. The simple truth is that an addict often values his or her relationship with addiction above fear and responsibility and treatment is a more powerful solution than fear or punishment. Let’s hear from Christian DeLuca, founder and president of Steps to Recovery.

Drink driving is a public health issue not a criminal one. Treating it as a criminal issue is putting thousands of lives in danger instead of saving lives. The simple truth is that if you can’t control your drinking to the point where you get in a car over the limit, then you have an alcohol problem that you can’t control and need treatment or support.

A drink driver is like someone addicted to bungee jumping in a world where bungee ropes have run out and a child is sitting eating a sandwich underneath each bungee station. They can’t help but jump anyway. Fining them, banning them from bungee jumping or locking them up just delays the inevitable – they really, really can’t stop themselves from jumping and will do so at some point. We want treatment to become the standard first step for those struggling with the real, treatable, conditions that lead them to put themselves and others in danger on the roads of America.

Christian DeLuca, Founder and President, Steps to Recovery