Police routinely stop drivers they suspect of drinking too much and give them tests to detect the presence of alcohol in their bodies. Police also stop drivers who may be driving under the influence of a drug. Did you know that police can also issue tests to determine that?
A number of counties in the state of Michigan are doing just that. In a Michigan State Police pilot program that began in 2017, police in five Michigan counties are pulling over drivers who appear to be using drugs.
As part of this program, police officers take mouth swabs from the drivers to test for the presence of drugs. People who do not give samples to the police face civil infractions.
Police initiatives to stop alcohol- and drug-related driving include establishing sobriety checkpoints, areas where police will pull people over if they suspect they are operating their vehicles under the influence of substances. One such initiative is Checkpoint Strikeforce, a multistate initiative that operates checkpoints and provides education about drunk driving.
Checkpoint Strikeforce claims that “Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) reports that 85-90% of Americans support sobriety checkpoints.” MADD, too, is a formidable force against drunk driving. This grassroots organization has publicized the dangers of drunk driving and MADD continues to educate people and help the victims of this crime.
Such approaches and organizations stress prevention. When it comes to addiction, prevention is a very useful tactic. Because even if people already have problems with drugs and alcohol, effective treatment can prevent problems from becoming worse.
The longer people use substances, the more substances they use, the harder it is to treat their alcohol and drug abuse. Catching problems early (or before they start) can prevent dangerous consequences for them and others, especially if they would have driven cars under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
