Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Asana! For millions of Americans, this is a special day to celebrate the first gesture of goodwill and peace in the land that would become the United States and a time to gather together with family and friends. Nevertheless, while this is one of the happiest times of the year, it can also be one of the most dangerous. In fact, some of the highest rates of drunk driving occur during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. To combat this issue in 2018, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension have joined forces to provide drivers with a harsh reminder of the dangers of alcohol and drug-impaired driving. Let’s take a closer look at how these groups are planning to combat this issue head-on during this Thanksgiving holiday.
Too Much of a Risk
As part of the initiative, officials have urged people to take appropriate preventative action relaying a message to drive sober during this holiday. According to Lorie Stovall (agent for Texas AgriLife Extension), after indulging in excessive amounts of alcohol during the festivities, people will get behind the wheel of their vehicles, which can (more often than not) result in tragedy.
Based on statistics from the NHTSA, from 2013 to 2017, an estimated 800 people died as a direct result of fatal drunk driving crashes that took place during the week of the Thanksgiving holiday (from 6:00 PM on Wednesday to 5:59 AM on Monday). Ultimately, this means that Thanksgiving is the deadliest holiday on Texas roadways, as well as all interconnected roads in the United States, overall. In fact, during 2017 alone, 1 out of 3 fatalities during Thanksgiving involved a driver who had consumed too much alcohol.
Frightening New Reports
According to the groups’ statistics, drug-impaired driving is also spiking during the Thanksgiving season. Based on a recent report, from 2007 to 2017, two times the number of drivers killed in fatal accidents had consumed marijuana, while in 2016, 42% of fatalities had tested positive for drug use (in forensic studies). So why have these trends skyrocketed? Texas officials believe this phenomenon is related to the unfortunate habits called Blackout Wednesday and Danksgiving, which promote excessive alcohol and marijuana consumption during Thanksgiving and the holidays.
Always remember that alcohol and drugs do not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance use disorder or a severe form of addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your alcohol abuse, drug abuse or addiction troubles today.
