A Good Idea from South Dakota?
South Dakota operates a 24/7 sobriety progam for drink-driving and domestic violence, where offenders have to be tested twice a day. You should read this piece in The Guardian, where Kit Malthouse, London’s Deputy Mayor, expands his ideas, based on the South Dakota experience, in detail.
I think that the idea is worth trying.
I also think that it could be applied to some drink-driving cases. I have only been breatherlysed once and I was well under the limit and as at the present time, I can’t drive, it would be no benefit to me personally at the moment. But supposing now, someone is just over the limit and was perhaps caught say because they were stopped because a brake-light was out, would it not be a good idea to fine the driver and put them on a 24/7 sobriety program. It would not mean they lost their job and had problems ferrying children and elderly relatives. They would just have a bit of inconvenience about going to be tested twice a day.
There is also the point, that routine often brings people round and improves their lives. I have mentored people in the past, who’ve asked me how they can get and keep a job. Often it depends on a lot of small things, like being on time, being smart and polite. I’ve told them this and often a few months later, I’ve got a thanks.
The Anonymous Widower 
In some US states people who have been found to be driving over the limit several times are sent to Alcoholics Anonymous, and their attendance is checked. AA say that newcomers should do 90 meetings in the first 90 days. AA works, as do all the other 12 step fellowships. Not for everyone, and not first time. But it is a good programme and it deals with the issues underlying the drinking/drugging/gambling/abusing etc. It is the method used by most rehab facilities, certainly all rehab at Priory group centres is strongly 12 step based.
Comment by Liz P | August 3, 2010 |