95th SFS emphasizes planning, education to prevent DUIs

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jason Hernandez
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 95th Security Forces Squadron and base programs such as National Drug and Drunk Driving Prevention month and Airmen Against Drunk Driving are working to reduce the numbers of DUIs through education and planning. 

December and July are the two months with the highest number of driving under the influence cases here.

"December is National Drug and Drunk Driving Prevention month," said Gwen Turner, Drug Demand Reduction program substance abuse prevention specialist. "This is the time of year when people are more stressed out because they may have the holiday blues, they don't have enough money to buy gifts or have other life issues."

Higher stress levels and holiday parties may contribute to individuals drinking more during the holiday season, she said.

"Security Forces conducts sobriety check-points during the holidays," Ms. Turner said. "We also have training programs such as the squadron alcohol prevention skills curriculum. We try to teach people how alcohol affects the body and how to make smart choices regarding alcohol. We also have the leadership substance abuse awareness course. Both programs are one-time mandatory training classes here."

Ms. Turner said it's important to have a plan before going out and drinking.

"If you go out to a party, make sure you have a designated driver to give your keys to before you drink," she said. "If a plan falls through for whatever reason, they can get a ride from AADD."

Darrel Burns, Sexual Assault Response coordinator, said people often don't understand the impact alcohol has on them when they begin drinking.

"It diminishes our judgment, the ability to make good decisions and our self perception of how we are functioning," he said. "Alcohol also impacts the central nervous system as a depressant, which is why we have slower reaction times and decreased equilibrium."

Mr. Burns said most people do not go out with the intention to drink and drive.

"People still have difficulty understanding that it takes at least an hour for the liver to metabolize a 12-ounce beer, four-ounce glass of wine, or a shot and a half of hard liquor," he said. "If you have three 12-ounce alcoholic beverages within 30 minutes to an hour, your liver cannot metabolize that very quickly. Body weight and food intake also come into play."

Edwards is getting to the point where the community is far more educated, Mr. Burns said.

"People are seeing that it's okay to have someone drive you home or use a service such as AADD," he said. "The other culture we are trying to develop is the Wingman Boldface culture. As a bystander, you may be the one who's intervening and telling someone they aren't able to drive. The whole role of the wingman concept is to see the concerns and the difficulties that someone is having with alcohol."

The average cost of getting a DUI in California is a minimum of $3,000 in fees up to about $8,000, Mr. Burns said.

"Some people may also lose their job," he said. "An individual may end up killing themselves or someone else. Those charges go far beyond the cost. They can have long-term impact on families."

Tech. Sgt. Teddy Greevebiester, 95th Security Forces Squadron flight chief, has seen the impacts of DUIs first hand.

"I once had an individual who was under the influence of alcohol and was coming home," he said. "His wife and kids were driving around looking for him. The individual ended up in a head-on collision with his family. Both vehicles were totaled. He went to jail for a year while his wife was hospitalized for three months. Their children were placed in a foster care system until his family could get them."

A servicemember caught driving under the influence is given a urinalysis test and is referred to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team program, Sergeant Greevebiester said. The program consists of a mandatory six hours of educational training. Any further classes depend on what the initial assessment shows.

Civilians can lose their driving privileges on base for three months to a year, he said.

"A long time ago, when alcohol was more accepted in the military, people would have a little bump in the road and continue on in their career almost unhindered," Ms. Turner said. "Now it's more serious, and leadership takes a hard line on DUIs because people's lives are at stake. Penalties are stricter than in the past."

The wreckage displayed at the intersection of FitzGerald and Lancaster Boulevard shows the potential impact of a DUI, she said. The driver was driving under the influence of alcohol and hit a rail on a bridge. The driver survived, but has medical issues as a result of the accident.

"Alcohol use is part of our culture and society," Mr. Burns said. "Using alcohol responsibly is a cultural influence we have to develop and achieve. Through our education programs, intervention programs, Wingman Boldface and people getting actively involved, we can create a much safer environment."