The second Arizona Cardinals’ executive this year was recently arrested for drunk driving. The Cardinal organization suspended its executive vice president and chief operating officer for at least six weeks without compensation and fined him $200,000. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is providing mandatory comprehensive training in DUI awareness for all players, staff, and executives. The $200,000 fine is being donated to MADD.

"Across the nation, drunk driving is the leading killer on our roads, taking the lives of almost 11,000 people every year. MADD serves a victim of this violent, 100 percent preventable, crime every 3 minutes,” said MADD Arizona Executive Director Jason Frazier. “The victims who work with us change lives by sharing their heartbreaking stories. We believe our training will make a difference in the lives of every member of the Cardinals’ organization. We will make sure they remember us when their plans include alcohol.”

“There is no excuse to ever drive while impaired by alcohol or other drugs,” Frazier said. “Plan ahead before going out by using the services of a non-drinking, unimpaired driver, whether it’s a taxi, rideshare app, public transportation or a friend or family member. It’s that simple.”

The Cape Coral Police Department reported on September 10, 2019 that five people were arrested for DUI between August 27^th and September 9^th, 2019. The five drivers had blood alcohol levels more than two times the legal limit. Among the five, one was 3 times the limit, and two were above 4 times the limit.

The department said, “The easiest way to not get a DUI is to NOT drive impaired. If you are going out to partake in adult beverages, designate a sober driver or utilize an alternate form of transportation: Uber, Lyft, taxi, bus, etc. Don’t take the chance of ruining a life, including your own.”

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) says that alcohol affects the body in the following ways:

Brain:

Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways and can affect the way the brain looks and works. These disruptions can change mood and behavior and make it harder to think clearly and move with coordination.  

Heart:

Drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a single occasion can damage the heart, causing problems, including:

• Cardiomyopathy – Stretching and drooping of heart muscle
• Arrhythmias – Irregular heart beat
• Stroke
• High blood pressure  

Liver:

Heavy drinking takes a toll on the liver and can lead to a variety of problems and liver inflammations, including:

• Steatosis or fatty liver
• Alcoholic hepatitis
• Fibrosis
• Cirrhosis

Pancreas:

Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis, a dangerous inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels in the pancreas that prevents proper digestion. 

Cancer:

The National Cancer Institute says, based on extensive reviews of research studies, there is a strong scientific consensus of an association between alcohol drinking and several types of cancer. In its “Report on Carcinogens”, the National Toxicology Program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lists consumption of alcoholic beverages as a known human carcinogen. The research evidence indicates that the more alcohol a person drinks—particularly the more alcohol a person drinks regularly over time—the higher his or her risk of developing an alcohol-associated cancer. Based on data from 2009, an estimated 3.5 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States (about 19,500 deaths) were alcohol-related.

Clear patterns have emerged between alcohol consumption and the development of the following types of cancer: head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancer.

Immune System:

Drinking too much can weaken your immune system, making your body a much easier target for disease.  Chronic drinkers are more liable to contract diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis than people who do not drink too much.  Drinking a lot on a single occasion slows your body’s ability to ward off infections – even up to 24 hours after getting drunk.

“Should you or a loved one be injured in a DUI accident caused by another driver, after seeking medical treatment, please call Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. We are available 24/7 to assist you, and there are no costs or attorney fees unless we make a monetary recovery for you,” said Fort Myers DUI Accident Attorney Randall Spivey.

 Fort Myers DUI Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.