DRUGS, ALCOHOL ARE A DEADLY MIX

Re: Crash kills father, 3 sons, Aug. 2

In response to the recent fatalities of four men of the McConnell
family killed by a substance-impaired driver in St. Petersburg, I felt
compelled to speak out about how common driving under the influence of
both alcohol and drugs is becoming. Although alcohol is still the
leading substance of abuse in fatal DUI traffic accidents, marijuana
is the second most commonly found substance in drivers involved in
crashes.

According to the National Office of Drug Control Policy, alcohol and
marijuana are frequently found together, resulting in a dramatic
decrease in driving performance and increase in impairment. Studies
show that the ill-fated combination of alcohol and marijuana raises
one's level of impairment from a 0.04 BAC (alcohol alone) to an
impairment comparable of up to 0.14 BAC (alcohol and marijuana combined).

Drunken driving is a serious public safety concern, but drugged
driving is on the rise and a close secondary concern. It's not just
alcohol these days that is impairing drivers who are killing our loved
ones. I have heard folks say marijuana never killed anyone. However,
as a drug policy and prevention expert with 25 years of experience, I
can, unfortunately, say they are totally wrong! My prayers go out to
this grieving family as well as to all family members who were victims
of someone else's drug and alcohol abuse.

Calvina Fay, executive director, Drug Free America Foundation Inc.,
St. Petersburg