Running head: DRINKING AND DRIVING, TIME MANAGEMENT AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE 1

Drinking and Driving, Time Management and Substance Abuse

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Drinking and Driving

Getting behind the wheel of motor vehicles after alcohol consumption remains grave and

punishable crime in the United States (Kuerbis et al., 2014). Roughly, around thirty people lose

their lives on road crashes daily which in most instances involves driving under the influence of

alcohol. Additionally, more than one million cases are reported annually across the world

involving alcohol impaired driving with many of the drivers ending up arrested by the traffic

police over such issues. Even with educational programs, warnings, stiff penalties for violating

rules and public awareness, many drivers still find themselves behind the wheels of their vehicles

while they are drunk.

Arguably, driving under influence of alcohol is responsible for ever-increasing traffic

accidents incidents. Drunk driving increases the possibilities of accidents by impairing the

driving skills of the driver. A blood alcohol concentration of more than 0.1 can cause a very fatal

accidents. Nonetheless, with lower concentration of alcohol drivers are also vulnerable to

accident involvement. Drunk drivers hardly see the sign boards besides they cannot respond

quickly in various situations (Zhang & Sloan, 2014).

Driving under the influence of alcohol impacts on drivers’ coordination of eyes, foot and

hands which leads to inability to circumvent approaching detrimental encounter. Alcohol

dramatically reduces driver’s concentration on the road as well as observing traffic signals which

ultimately leads to over speeding escalating the chances of having an accident. Using alcohol

while driving not only affects judgment and altitude of the drivers but also the reaction and the

perception they have towards their role. Lastly, it is very crucial to apprehend that drunk driving

is not unlawful and punishable crime but also puts the lives of other road users at risk.
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Time Management

“Time and tide wait for none” is one of popular quote which precisely said by many

individuals who apprehend the importance or rather value of managing time. Time is very

critical resource which individuals have to acknowledge and use wisely in order to succeed in

their life aspects. It has been argued that time wastage may result in failure in identifying oneself

identity. In this perspective, time management can subjectively be defined as an ability to plan

and control spending of time on various undertakings to efficiently and objectively meet set

targets.

With respect to that definition, time management involve effective allocation of time to

the right activities based on their significance. As time is a limited resource, making best use of

time may be advantageous in many ways including relieving stress, increased opportunities and

less wastage of time, achieving targets or objectives in shorter length of time among others.

Managing time plays an indispensable role in our personal lives as well as organization. It

involves various activities ranging from effective planning, formulation of objectives and goals

to be achieved, establishing deadlines, responsibility delegation, and wise prioritization of

activities to elimination of non-essential activities (Grissom, Loeb & Mitani, 2015). Effective

time management involve preparation of To Do List, jotting down activities of significant

importance which ought to be accomplished in one day considering the time availability as well

as allocation. Urgent roles are often given the first priority before other activities could be

allocated. Time managers also set realistic and achievable objectives which can be accomplished

within set deadlines. In the meantime, some responsibilities could be delegated to make sure they

are done within time limit. Exceptional management of time often lead to high achievements as it

improves individual’s ability to function in an effective manner. Time management remain the
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reason why some individuals accomplish more than others despite operating under the same

twenty four hours.

Substance Abuse

Substance refers to any drugs which may either be legal or illegal. Substance abuse

occurs when an individual takes too much drugs or in a manner that is not prescribed. It is

possible for many people with substance abuse challenges to exit or rather quit their noxious

conduct. However, upon addiction one may find it difficult to quit despite being harmful to their

health. Regardless of whether substance is permissible or illegitimate they contain chemicals

which have the ability of altering the functioning of human brain and the whole body as well

(Lewis, Dana & Blevins, 2014). Despite argument that drugs especially alcohol and other

commonly abused drugs give the users pleasurable “high,” eliminate stress in brain as well as

other life problems, substance abuse is known to result in numerous negative effects than the

positive ones including worsened health issues.

Abuse of substance results in dependence syndrome which develop after consistently

using the substance. It is a psychological, behavioral and cognitive phenomena which

strengthens the abusers yearning to use drugs. Substance abuse disorients the mind of the user by

altering their moods. Consequently, altering their reaction time, clouding judgment besides

distorting the perception of the user. Some of mostly abused substances include inhalants,

tobacco, alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, heroin among others. Not just that, one can abuse medical

drugs by using more dose than prescribed, using drugs for unintended purpose, sharing medicine

with somebody against the prescription of the doctor or physician. Substance abuse can be

treated by detoxification, an inpatient treatment which helps users lessen or withdraw from usage

of drugs. However, many abusers think they can quit on their own but they hardly prosper.
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References

Grissom, J. A., Loeb, S., & Mitani, H. (2015). Principal time management skills. Journal of

Educational Administration.

Kuerbis, A., Sacco, P., Blazer, D. G., & Moore, A. A. (2014). Substance abuse among older

adults. Clinics in geriatric medicine, 30(3), 629-654.

Lewis, J. A., Dana, R. Q., & Blevins, G. A. (2014). Substance abuse counseling. Cengage

Learning.

Sloan, F. A., Eldred, L. M., & Davis, D. V. (2014). Addiction, drinking behavior, and driving

under the influence. Substance use & misuse, 49(6), 661-676.

Zhang, Y., & Sloan, F. A. (2014). Depression, alcohol dependence and abuse, and drinking and

driving behavior. Journal of behavioral health, 3(4), 212.