Driving a vehicle while intoxicated, aka DWI, of alcohol can be dangerous and life threatening. It is definitely illegal. If a driver commits a DWI, severe penalties from both the courts and the New York Department of Motor Vehicles will be instituted.
The exact punishments will depend on the conditions of the DWI and driving history, a violator will usually face jail time, fines, compulsory completion of alcohol addiction treatments and evaluation programs. Violators may be required to purchase and install a device that requires the operator of a vehicle to pass a test by blowing into the device safely in order to start the vehicle. That comes after what may be the most catastrophic of the penalties – driver’s license suspension or even revocation. This can be followed by loss of job, increase or cancellation of insurance, family strife and becoming ostracized by friends and family. DWI lawyer New York Kugel Law Firm understands the impact that a DWI offense can have on a person and a family.
Each type of DWI in New York comes with a different set of penalties and the more severe the DWI, the harsher the consequences. The penalties will depend on the type of DWI the vehicle operator convicted of.
If a motorist is stopped by police and has a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher, or is under the influence of drugs, it is possible that he or she could be facing DWI charges. Police will ask the motorist to submit to a chemical or blood test to determine the motorist’s level of impairment, and if this test is refused, it will result in the immediate suspension of driving privileges for possibly one year due to the state’s implied consent laws.
Motorists face fines ranging from $500 to $1000, as well as up to one year in jail for a first offense. They must also pay fines associated with the court case. First-time offenders will also be required to install an ignition interlock device for at least six months after conviction.
These devices will not allow operation of a motor vehicle if alcohol is detected on a driver’s breath. The motorists must pay for the installation and monthly monitoring costs associated with the device. If the individual is convicted of later DWI offenses, the amount of time with the interlock device will increase.
If you have been arrested for driving while intoxicated, do not panic. Remain calm, and do not discuss your case with law enforcement officers. Contact an attorney experienced at handling DWI cases to learn more about your specific options. For a highly successful DWI lawyer New York Kugel Law Firm is the first call you should make.
You need rehab if you are suffering from substance abuse or addiction, whether with drugs or alcohol. Determining whether someone has these conditions is not easy to do when that person is yourself. As with most things, it is difficult to be self-objective. There are ways to identify substance abuse or addiction in yourself, however. Knowing you have a problem is the first step in conquering your addiction, with the next step being to get sober.
Substance Abuse
The easiest way to self-diagnose a substance abuse problem is if the substance is disrupting aspects of daily life. Aspects include your employment, relationships, health, and everyday living. If you find yourself still engaging in behavior that is damaging yourself or loved ones, you most likely have a substance abuse problem.
Substance abuse is a complex disorder that is progressive in nature. Substance abuse will eventually become a full-on addiction if left untreated. The only treatment for a substance abuse problem is a professional intervention and the successful completion of a detox and rehab program. This kind of therapy has freed millions from the compulsive grip of their substance abuse problems.
Addiction
To know if a substance abuse problem has grown into the devastating disease known as addiction, test the user’s behavior. Addiction is most characterized not just by the compulsive seeking of drugs or alcohol, but also by its increase or escalation. If you are actively seeking out these substances or increasing the amount of them, that is addiction. Addiction is a chronic disease that needs professional help to treat. Almost all cases require an out-patient rehab program with an after-treatment program. The rehab facility’squality and type of therapies offered dramatically impacts the long-term recovery from addiction.
Substance abuse problems or addiction usually require rehab. These problems quickly escalate and spiral out-of-control. A frequent mistake is in questioning whether a substance problem or addiction is severe enough to require rehab in the first place. Many decide against treatment due to thinking their situation is not bad enough. But truthfully, if you are questioning whether you need help getting sober, you do, and this is especially true regarding addiction to heroin and other opioids.
According to SAMHSA’s 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, only 10 percent of those struggling with substance abuse or addiction received the treatment they needed. The best time to get sober was yesterday, and the second-best time is right now.
Understanding Addiction Severity Levels
As previously stated, if your life or relationships are affected by your substance use, that is probably addiction. When you call, our treatment navigators will ask questions to determine the severity of your addiction. Along with additional information on your situation, knowing your addiction severity helps our navigators find the best rehab facility for you. Rating your addiction’s severity is done using the 11 criteria for addiction to rank from mild, moderate, or severe. These criteria include:
Lack of control
Desire to quit but unable
Spending time trying to obtain the substance
Cravings
Lack of responsibility
Problems with relationships
Loss of interest
Dangerous use
Worsening situations
Tolerance
Withdrawal
Friends Might Not Acknowledge Your Addiction
Commonly, those suffering from substance abuse or addiction have friends whom they may want support from when deciding to get sober. But rarely are our friends supportive of this decision. Usually, this is because they either have a similar problem themselves or do not understand the extent of your addiction.
If your friends or loved ones have a substance abuse problem or addiction themselves, it is rare to get support from them toward your sobriety. This lack of support is often to avoid the potential loss of their friend or avoid admitting their problem to themselves. All good friends will support your decision to get sober because it is what is best for you, and the best way to support them is to get sober yourself first.
The other common reason you may not receive support from your friends or loved ones when seeking recovery is they do not understand. This is common as those suffering from substance abuse or addiction usually conceal the extent of their problem from those important to them. Know that those suffering from addiction often hurt their loved ones in ways they may not realize. Remember also that it is difficult for people to grasp addiction’s darkness if they have never experienced it. Take this opportunity to be honest and open with your problem and your need to seek help.
Your Addiction Will Get Worse
As previously stated, many decide against treatment due to thinking their situation is not bad enough. Though accurate that a mild addiction is not as bad as a severe one, addiction is a chronic and progressive disease. It will get worse. If you have a mild case right now, it will become moderate or severe in the future.
As a chronic disease, as with asthma, hypertension, or diabetes, seeking treatment now is the only way to prevent your addiction from getting worse. You do not have to have a severe case to need treatment, and addiction, especially, can quickly spiral out of control. Getting help before it gets out of hand is massively important. The converse is true too. Even with a severe case, it is never too late to get the help you need. As low as you may think you have gone, addiction has no rock-bottom and will get worse.
Hiding Your Addiction Will Not Last
Fulfilling your family and professional duties and maintaining relationships while having a drug or alcohol addiction is known as a high-functioning addict. But the double life created by addicts maintaining a level of success professionally and socially while battling their addiction is not permanent.
Denial is what keeps these addicts from seeking sobriety. They feel in control due to their life remaining relatively normal. However, their addiction is often worse than they know and is a ticking time-bomb for their ‘normal’ life. Some addicts can struggle with their addiction for years before the facade falls apart. And it will eventually fall apart. Most of the time, it is a life-changing event such as a DUI or an accidental overdose that brings the addiction to light. Do not make the mistake of waiting for the life you built to fall apart before seeking help. Seeking recovery now is the only way to avoid the consequences of untreated addiction.
Your Best Chance Is Rehab
Beating a substance abuse problem or an addiction to drugs or alcohol requires ending the physical dependence and healing the psychological aspects of addiction. Quitting cold turkey will not change the psychological dependence and behavior issues associated with addiction. Real recovery comes addressing the psychological side of addiction, requiring help from a professional rehab facility.
Addiction is a lifelong disease. But a detox and rehab program at a high-quality treatment center can free you from the harmful effects of addiction and help you achieve long-term sobriety.
If you need help finding the right treatment program for you and your situation, please contact us today.
For professional, effective addiction rehab centers Psyclarity Health provides compassionate healing care and treatment.
Originally written and posted by Carl Yazbek of Addiction Healthcare Services
a driver commits a DWI, severe penalties from both the courts and the New York Department of Motor Vehicles will be instituted.
conditions is not easy to do when that person is yourself. As with most things, it is difficult to be self-objective. There are ways to identify substance abuse or addiction in yourself, however. Knowing you have a problem is the first step in conquering your addiction, with the next step being to get sober.
substance use, that is probably addiction. When you call, our treatment navigators will ask questions to determine the severity of your addiction. Along with additional information on your situation, knowing your addiction severity helps our navigators find the best rehab facility for you. Rating your addiction’s severity is done using the 11 criteria for addiction to rank from mild, moderate, or severe. These criteria include: