Think about it this way . . .

     Sen. Lynn Bromley touched on something in our interview about the Ignition Interlock Device (IID) program that I thought was important to remember.
     Besides being a deterrent to drunk driving (the obvious) the program might help people realize sooner that they have a problem and need to get help.
     It’s easy not to care about that side of the coin but I think if everyone thought about it for a moment they would be able to identify a person in their lives who has a drinking problem, or used to have one.
     In no way do I mean to overshadow victims of drunk driving accidents, I’m just trying to think of the other side of the situation.
     The IID is this sort of technological, told you so type of proof for someone who is in denial about a drinking problem. When the device says no, the person listens, which isn’t always their reaction when an actual person tries to stop them from driving drunk.
     I believe that alcoholism is a disease and that people need to hit their lowest low before understanding that about themselves. The IID could be the final low for a lot of people that could motivate them to get help.
     A friend once told me that he would never become an alcoholic. He said he simply wouldn’t let himself get out of control.
     Drunk driving is of course ignorant but so is that kind of thinking - it is dangerous, ignorant and part of the problem. Maybe if people considered and tried to understand people with alcohol problems it could have a trickle down effect felt by people engaging in dangerous, alcohol induced activities such as drunk driving.