Individuals get involved in alcohol or drug related accidents during summer holidays

Jun 24 2010

As the days grow longer and hotter, some chemical dependency professionals have their own name for summer: substance abuse season, because that's when individuals who abuse or are addicted to alcohol, prescription medications and drugs get involved in alcohol or drug related accidents during the summer holidays.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, alcohol is a factor in almost half of all traffic fatalities. Because 30 to 60 percent more people die in motor vehicle accidents on the weekends normally than during the week, weekend holidays such as Independence Day are especially dangerous. All-day drinking and the already high number of travelers in vacation-heavy midsummer make Independence Day a perilous holiday, with almost 41 million people on the roads and more than half of all accidents caused by drunk driving.

"Now that summer is in full-swing and millions of Americans begin to enjoy social gatherings and vacations, it is also the beginning of substance abuse season. Unfortunately as the weather gets nicer, we begin to see an increase in accidents, overdoses and other problems with those who are alcohol or chemically addicted," said Dr. Daniel Suzuki, Medical Director at Las Encinas Hospital. "As a predictable, progressive disease, alcoholism and chemical dependency follow a sequence through certain stages from normal, social drinking to dependency, and from dependency to addiction and tragic accidents that we hear about in the media," added Dr. Suzuki.

Alcohol and drug addiction are illnesses as defined by the American Medical Association. They are progressive and potentially fatal illnesses and are predisposed, genetic conditions that require complete abstinence of addictive chemicals. The recovery for people who have alcohol and drug addiction is a lifetime commitment that includes treating the addict/alcoholic and the family.

"When it comes to alcohol, many people equate drinking as part of enjoying the summer. It is during the summer and holidays that more people abuse alcohol and drugs.  Accident statistics elevate during the summer in part because problem drinkers and alcoholics love the holidays because there are more social occasions to drink. People who may not drink daily, but are binge drinkers, may be at even higher risk for driving accidents and injuring innocent motorists. Binge drinkers may be less aware of the motor impairments that their drinking causes," added Dr. Suzuki.

Drug dependence and abuse both involve the misuse of one or more drugs. These can be prescription medicines and/or illicit drugs. Drug dependence is addiction. A person keeps using a drug even though doing so results in problems that affect the person's mind, physical health and/or behaviors. Problems include, drug cravings, the need for increased amounts of the drug to get the desired effect and withdrawal symptoms.

"Alcohol and drug abuse, unless treated, will progress to the point where it will cause problems in the areas of relationships, work, medical complications or legal issues. It is critical that as these problems arise, people with substance abuse get the proper help to prevent lives from becoming unmanageable. People do not need to reach rock bottom before they get help," concluded Dr. Suzuki.