I got a DUI

Nursie30 · Sep 20, 2003

I went to nursing school in 1998, I had to get a deposition from the police station for a MIP I received in 1990. I felt that was a bit overboard. There are a lot of strong opinions on this thread, because this is a debate that many have argued. One point I have read that is not true is that most alcoholics are the ones that get the DUI's, actually it is just the opposite, it is usually the social drinker, like snoop that gets the DUI. Most alcoholics get off scott free, that is what makes the debate of the BAC level so interesting.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Sep 20, 2003

Hey, whatever. How silly of me to presume that I've actually learned anything in 15 years of being a practicing alcoholic and almost 12 years of being a sober one. I should just retire from the fray and leave it to all of the experts who know for certain that a) people who are stopped for DUI ALWAYS tell the truth when they say they've had only two drinks, b) alcoholics usually get away with heinous crimes while innocent citizens who had only those two drinks get pulled in for DUI, and c) anyone who is or ever has been an alcoholic is an angry, bitter human being who is utterly incapable of spotting potential problems in another person.

That said, I think I'll go back to the political threads, which are far less dangerous than this little powderkeg I inadvertently set off. I am sooooo outta here. Bye.

Brownms46 · Sep 20, 2003

I think most laws say "Don't drink and drive, NOT don't get drunk and drive! So if you're going to Drink ...Don't Drive...period! What's sooo hard about that???

If you're not drinking and driving, you don't have to worry about your BAC! And mj I found merit in what you had to say, and if someone else didn't that is their problem...not yours! You have a right to post, exactly what you felt, and you did in a nice way, not as an attack!

And I'm not a recovering alcoholic, and I don't drink and drive! Never have, and never will! If there is no designated driver, then there are almost always taxis!

SmilingBluEyes · Sep 20, 2003

yepper, brownie!

mattsmom81 · Sep 20, 2003

I had no idea that one or two drinks might put me into the illegal category when driving. So I learned something here....

I don't feel impaired at all with 2 drinks over the course of the evening. But I WILL exercise caution knowing what was shared here.

NurseWhiteRN · Sep 20, 2003

DUI Laws differ from state to state with most having zero tolerance. Since its your first, consult a DUI lawyer, you might be able to get it reduced to a lesser conviction. If you got it last night, you have not been convicted. You have a court date to determine if a law has been broken. You blew DUI though. However, You have "innocent till proven guilty", lawyer maybe helpful. The statement above re: breath analizer test on men, is true. Before utilized it was test only on men, averaging 15olbs. The two hour statement goes along with the 150 lbs test on men.

Metabolism depends on the hemodynamics/tolerance.

Bless you heart, I sure hate you are having to go through this. (But, it can be helpful in the long run, evaluate yourself for a problem. ) You sound to me like an honest person who had a few drinls.

Got to share my experience: My husband and I were in another state "Texas", for an anniversary. 4pm very happy, romantic dinner with 2 glasses of wine each was destroyed 4 hours later. My husbands DUI and my public intox evolved from a state trooper whom is very unhappy with life. AND IS NO LONGER A STATE TROOPER in the grand state of Texas, I do love the state/cities. With his psych. issue, our cases were torn up in the court room by the judge.

Seriously, he really had/has psych. issues, Im sure he will be on medicine the rest of his life.

Keep a positive attitude, you will be alright regardless of the outcome.:)

CarVsTree · Sep 21, 2003

I don't know you personally and I don't know how much or how often you drink. I'm a pre-nursing student so I have NO career advice to give you.

It is fortunate that there are so many knowledgable people on this board to help you out professionally.

Please take this test (and anyone else that may be wondering abou themselves).

1. Do you lose time from work due to drinking?

2. Is drinking making your home life unhappy?

3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people?

4. Is drinking affecting your reputation?

5. Have you ever felt remorse after drinking?

6. Have you gotten into financial difficulties as a result of drinking?

7. Do you turn to lower companions and an inferior environment when drinking?

8. Does your drinking make you careless of your family's welfare?

9. Has your ambition decreased since drinking?

10. Do you crave a drink at a definite time of day?

11. Do you want a drink the next morning?

12. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?

13. Has your efficiency decreased since drinking?

14. Is drinking jeopardizing your job or business?

15. Do you drink to escape from worries or trouble?

16. Do you drink alone?

17. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of drinking?

18. Has your physician ever treated you for drinking?

19. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence?

20. Have you ever been to a hospital or institution on account of drinking?

If you have answered YES to any one of the questions, there is a definite warning that you may be an alcoholic.

If you have answered YES to any two, the chances are that you are an alcoholic.

If you have answered YES to three or more, you are definitely an alcoholic.

(These questions were made up by Dr. Robert V. Seliger for use at John Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore, MD, in deciding whether a patient is alcoholic.)

Here's a link to the test: http://www.aa-uk.org.uk/publications/areyou.htm

Take the test. Get educated about problem drinking/alcoholism. Perhaps you just didn't understand that even one drink can put you over the low legal limit of .08 in most states. Perhaps you have a problem. Your answer to that question is the only answer that can help you. Other people telling you that you're an alcoholic will do you no good.

I hope you find your way (if you're lost that is).

God bless,

Liddle Noodnik · Sep 21, 2003

I think it sad, AND interesting, that people can get so defensive when someone else tries to educate them about alcohol.

If you want to drink, GO for it. If you are alcoholic, your disease will eventually convince you.

But PLEASE, if you drink, just stay off the road, period! Someone I love may be out there driving.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Sep 21, 2003

Originally posted by zoeboboey
I think it sad, AND interesting, that people can get so defensive when someone else tries to educate them about alcohol.

If you want to drink, GO for it. If you are alcoholic, your disease will eventually convince you.

But PLEASE, if you drink, just stay off the road, period! Someone I love may be out there driving.

AMEN!!!

Agnus · Sep 21, 2003

Originally posted by mattsmom81
I had no idea that one or two drinks might put me into the illegal category when driving. So I learned something here....

I don't feel impaired at all with 2 drinks over the course of the evening. But I WILL exercise caution knowing what was shared here.

That is the problem. One does not know when they are impaired on substances such as alcohol. It's like heat stroke you don't recognize it in yourself. You are dependent on a buddy to watch out for you.

About 20 some years ago I started to do some painting inside a building with oil base paint. I was higher than a kite from the fumes. I had no idea. If someone had not discovered me when they did, only God knows how much longer before I passed out from the toxic fumes.

About ten years before thatm the piolet (it's early I can't spell but you get it) went out on my stove. I did not detect any gas odor. I suddenly was sleepy and laid down. Then I thought that to be SO Sleepy all of a sudden was not normal. I checked the pilote light and it was out.

Alcohol cloulds judgement. You don't have to be drunk to be impaired.

Making the decision to never take one drink and drive is simple. Women process alcohol differently than men and we are much more likely to have diminished abilities on a lot less alcohol than men.

How you feel or even how you appear or act has NOTHING to do with the level of impairment you may be experiencing.

It is easier to make the decision to not drive after even one drink if you make it a permanent decision before you take that first drink.

vdiamond · Sep 21, 2003

When my kids were about 5 and 3, my eldest asked me once why I "drink and drive" with them in the car. He had seen many commercials concerning "drinking and driving".

Now, I rarely drink, even today. But I never drank when my kids were that age. Who has time for it? LoL

Anyhow, come to find out, he was referring to the diet cokes I would drink while driving. LOL LOL LOL

It took me a long time to convince him that drinking diet coke while driving was not what those commercials were referring to.

Anyhow, I hope everything turns out ok for Snoop.

Nursie30 · Sep 22, 2003

I never said I was an expert, I learned that in Sartop class after I had my minor in possession about social drinkers where the ones that usually received the DUI's, if that isn't true, then I guess they told me wrong. I am not trying to attack anyone at all.

But bottom line, drinking impairs your judgement, even the judgement of whether to get behind the wheel of a car, how many times have we heard our friends say, no, I'm driving, and you was more sober than them but the refused, well, that's alcohol impairing their judgement, so its not as simple as saying if you drink don't drive, because if your drunk you really don't know what the heck your doing anyways, right? not? I don't know, sticky subject