| Alcoholism has a devastating impact on the addict, his | | | | permissible Blood Alcohol Concentration/Content |
| family, and the people (including strangers) whom he | | | | (BAC) while driving is under 0.80%. If a person is |
| comes across. It affects the mind and the body. With | | | | convicted of DWI he has to attend courses at an |
| heavy drinking, alertness and skills become impaired, | | | | Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC), which has |
| the thinking process gets warped, and actions and | | | | been in existence since 1984. Treatment includes |
| reactions turn deranged. Prolonged abuse affects the | | | | alcohol and highway safety education programs. |
| body functions and the victim withers away, often | | | | Sometimes the concerned driver is referred to other |
| alone and bereft of any dignity. | | | | providers. Each county has an IRDC facility. |
| The problem is highly prevalent in the United States. | | | | Apart from IDRC and Alcoholics Anonymous, New |
| According to one estimate, 10% of adult drinkers are | | | | Jersey also has clinics and hospitals to combat |
| alcoholic. Almost 40% of all traffic deaths are caused | | | | alcoholism. Treatment consists of either one or a |
| by drink-related accidents. Here it is pertinent to note | | | | combination of outpatient, inpatient, biophysical, |
| that an occasional drinker could be as much a menace | | | | detoxification, group therapy, religious therapy, and |
| on the highway as an alcoholic. The state of New | | | | long-term rehabilitation. The required time frame varies |
| Jersey tries to protect its citizens with strict Driving | | | | according to the severity of the cases. The rate of |
| While Intoxicated (DWI) laws, and preemptive as well | | | | success depends a great deal on the will of the patient |
| as corrective programs. | | | | and the cooperation he extends to the program. |
| The New Jersey Motor Vehicles Commission | | | | There are self-help tools also available in the form of |
| conducts several courses on safe driving. The | | | | CDs and books. |