RSS

A Young Man's Irresponsible Drinking Leads to Depression, Time Behind Bars, and a DWI


By Denny Mitchell

Pete had a very difficult time keeping a job. As a matter of fact, due to his laziness, lack of incentive, and terrible work attitude, he was jobless far more frequently than he was employed. If this wasn't enough, when he did secure a job, he had a particularly difficult time getting to work on time, he typically got less than positive performance reviews, and he called off sick so often that he usually got fired just two or three months after he started working. Thus it should not come as a huge shocker that one of the consequences of Pete's less than positive work history was the fact that he was almost totally broke most of the time.

Regardless of Pete's financial negligence and unacceptable employment history, paradoxically, he consistently made it his business to drink in an excessive and carefree manner from day to day.

So it came as no big surprise to his family, friends, and ex-coworkers when Pete was arrested for driving under the influence for the second time in the past year. When he went to court, the judge clearly stated to Pete that his alcohol-related actions was irresponsible and, as a consequence, he was going to fine him $2,500 and sentence him to serve one year in the local county jail.

While he was in the municipal jail, Pete was expected to learn about the harmful and devastating effects of hazardous and immature drinking, about alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction statistics and facts, and he was mandated to get professional alcohol treatment. The magistrate clearly fact that unless Pete gets professional alcohol therapy and discovers how to live a life of sobriety, he would without a doubt be spending many months locked up behind bars.

Pete stated that he grasped what the judge was saying but he still believed that serving so many months in the county jail was not the best way to deal with his drinking problems. The magistrate, nonetheless, saw things from a totally different point of view and clearly told Pete it was his job to keep people off the streets who drive and drink and who receive one or more DUIs. To support his perspective, the judge reviewed some meticulously researched, time honored statistics and facts about alcohol abuse and alcoholism that undeniably showed some horrible consequences that are common with driving and drinking.

When Pete thought about his drinking situation in an honest manner, he admitted that he drank excessively on a regular basis. He never believed, however, that he was an alcoholic. So it was a jolt to his ego when Pete began having alcohol withdrawal symptoms two or three hours after he was taken to the municipal jail.

According to protocol, when an inmate suffers from alcohol withdrawals he or she is rushed to a drug and alcohol rehab hospital for alcohol detoxification and then returned to the municipal jail. This is done so that the persons withdrawal symptoms are managed in a safe and secure manner. While locked up in the city jail Pete went to alcohol rehab two days per week. Since, however, his alcohol treatment was mandated by the court, Pete did not take ownership of his reckless drinking.

After his jail time had come to a close, the judge in very clear terms emphasized to Pete that he would be placed on probation for 18 months, he would be placed under strict observation, and he would have to undergo occasional random blood alcohol tests.

After finding out how Pete neglected to take responsibility for his drinking problems and how unwillingly he was in following the rehabilitation game plan while locked up in the county jail, the judge realized that it was simply a matter of time before he would be seeing Pete once again in court about his out-of-control drinking behavior. As the judge thought about Pete and his specific situation, he quite easily came to the conclusion that some people never use their intellect and learn how to live in an effective and a responsible manner.

About the Author:

0 comments

Posted in