Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving Campaign
Ohio State Highway Patrol Public Affairs Unit reports 43 OVI arrests and 17 OVI related crashes but no fatalities during the holiday period from 11/24/10-1/2/11.
"Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving” - That’s the message Unison Behavioral Health Group, in partnership with the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Lucas County, worked to share with the public during the 2010 holiday season. The “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving” prevention campaign was designed to raise public awareness about the risks associated with impaired driving and to help get impaired and drunk drivers off the road.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol Public Affairs Unit, there were only 43 OVI arrests during the holiday season, which began on November 24, 2010 and ended on January 2, 2011. The State Highway Patrol has reported only 17 OVI-related crashes during the same time period, although crash numbers may be underestimated due to processing lags. Most importantly, there no OVI-related deaths reported. The acronym OVI refers to the term “Operating a Vehicle (while under the) Influence. Other terms used to describe this condition are “impaired driving” and “driving under the influence (DUI). The term “buzzed driving” refers to a feeling of slight intoxication after drinking or using drugs. Many people use the term to describe a condition that they see as being less than intoxicated after drinking or using drugs.
Unison’s “Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving” campaign enlisted the support of local communities to share the “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving” message through texts and social networks. Unison borrowed the strategy from the Ad Council and the NHTSA’s national “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving” campaign.
Unison’s campaign also included outdoor advertising and social media news releases with links to prevention videos created by the Ad Council.
“We are encouraged by the response we received from our local communities,” said Courtney Weiss, LISW-S, Chief Operating Officer for Unison. “Increasing public awareness about the very real dangers associated with impaired helps save lives.” According to Ms. Weiss, impaired driving remains one of America’s deadliest social problems and not just during the holidays.
The Substance Abuse and Mental health Administration (SAMHSA) has just released a survey on the latest trends in driving under the influence. Survey results show that Ohio had a high rate of driving under the influence of alcohol compared to other states and was in the mid?range of people driving under the influence of illicit drugs. According to the survey, younger drivers aged 16 to 25 had a much higher rate of drunk driving than those aged 26 or older. The survey did note that there has been a small reduction in the rate of drunk and drugged driving in the past few years.
Unison plans to continue to share the “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving” prevention message as part of its regular community outreach and through its online presence. Unison’s website has landing pages with information and videos to help educate the public about the dangers of buzzed driving. The Unison Facebook also includes information, statistics, links to related pages and websites and videos created by the Ad Council.
About Unison Behavioral Health Group
With over 35 years of experience, Unison Behavioral Health Group is the community’s recognized and preferred leader in caring for the behavioral health and substance abuse issues of adults, adolescents and children. Unison accepts Ohio Medicaid and most private insurances. Through their contract with the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Lucas County, Unison is able to offer subsidized services to Lucas County residents who are unable to afford the total cost of treatment. Unison is certified by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, and accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. For more information, visit www.unisonbhg.org.
Press Release Contact Name: Kitty Slight
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Press Release Contact Phone: 419.693.0631
Organization Name: Unison Behavioral Health Group
Website or Link: www.unisonbhg.org
Organization Address: 1425 Starr Avenue, Toledo, OH, 43605