Drinking and Driving - Most drunk drivers do not decide to be so>

by D.J. Diebold

I was shocked when I read the March 17 Tribune editorial, "Don't cry if you're DUI." As a substance abuse/addictions counselor with the DUI unit at Arizona State Prison, I found this piece to be both arrogant and self-serving.

First of all, there are no determined drunk drivers, and being a sociopath (a person without conscience) has nothing to do with choosing to drink and drive. Alcohol goes directly to the frontal lobe of the brain, our decision-making center, and choices become biased.

I agree that the number of alcohol-related driving deaths is shameful, but I would hardly refer to individuals with a disease as "reeking, retching sots." I find this degree of judgmentalism to be self-righteous, self-indulgent and inflammatory, not to mention journalistically irresponsible. It seems to me that this level of dialogue has a certain lynch-mob mentality.

I can't help but wonder if the author of this piece drinks alcohol or formerly drank alcohol. If he or she does, or if they at one time did, one thing is certain: He or she drove intoxicated. The odds are that he or she did drive intoxicated.

That determined, what's the difference between the author of this piece and the aforementioned "reeking, retching sots"? It is simply he or she didn't get caught.

I don't know what the statute of limitations for the "reeking, retching sots" category is, but for the mostly working and middle class DUI offenders under my care, it's a desire to get help with their disease and a determination to learn from their very human mistakes. Some will, some won't.

The kicker for me is the editorial's comparison of Arizona drunks to the 9/11 terrorists, and the number killed by both. I find this irresponsibility insensitive.

If the author's goal is to showcase his or her hypocrisy and to kill off the compassion in its readers for those with a disease, I'd call this piece an unmitigated success.

According to William Ryan, the author of "Blaming The Victim." "... many of us appear to have escaped victimization. They have decent jobs and homes, and send their children to decent schools. More important, they have not been made insensitive by their own good fortune." His study of racism and elitism has had an impact on our approach to contemporary social problems, according to Richard Thornell of Columbia University.

Yes, I'd have to say that this DUI piece certainly smacks of elitism. I suppose it's easier to blame the victims of contemporary social problems like alcohol and drug abuse, than the real villain, the inequity of American society and those who benefit financially from maintaining the status quo.

Personally, I'm "pleased" the Legislature just voted to keep Arizona's bars open an hour longer. This way I can commiserate with these "reeking, retching sots" before I call a cab and go home.

D.J. Diebold

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Updated 1/23/07

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