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New National Physician Group Calls on Governors in Fatal Fifteen States to Address Impaired Driving

Announcement Comes as Motorists Begin Deadly Winter Holiday Driving Season

WHO: Dr. Andrea Barthwell, Former Deputy Director for Demand Reduction, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy

Dr. Thomas Esposito, Director of Injury Analysis and Prevention, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 

Dr. Carl Soderstrom, Professor of Surgery, University of Maryland & National Board Member, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers 

Mr. Donald McNamara, Regional Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Mr. Neil Jesuele, Executive Vice President, American Hospital Association

Mr. John Ulczycki, Director of Transportation Safety, National Safety Council

WHAT: A new physician-lead traffic safety advocacy group called End Needless Death on Our Roadways (END), will announce a list of the fifteen deadliest states in the country for impaired driving and call on Governors and other leaders to join them in addressing the deadly problem. The Fatal Fifteen are states in which 44 percent or more of all traffic fatalities are alcohol related. The Fatal Fifteen, which includes Illinois, fourteen other states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico will be announced as motorists begin the busy and fatal winter holiday driving season.

The physicians and other healthcare provider members of END will call on each of the Governors of the Fatal Fifteen as well as the Mayor of Washington, D.C. to create or refocus a task force in their states dedicated to exploring new and innovative strategies for addressing impaired and other dangerous driving behaviors.

While the effects of stricter impaired driving laws and a general change in public attitude has lowered the number of impaired driving deaths over the years, the reduction in the death rate has reached a plateau. Unfortunately, the levels are still unacceptably high.

One of the strategies END will explore is treating alcohol use problems by implementing a protocol of alcohol screening and brief intervention in hospital emergency departments, which can lead to reductions in impaired driving episodes. This reduction will in turn, lead to fewer alcohol-related crashes.

Studies have determined that brief interventions, which are short 5 to 15 minute counseling sessions designed to assist the patient confront the negative consequences of his/her alcohol consumption, have proven effective in decreasing consumption among at-risk drinkers.

WHEN: Tuesday, December 7, 2004
10:00am

WHERE: American Hospital Association
One North Franklin
Conference Room 27104
Chicago, IL 60606

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