VistaTaos

February 4th, 2012, proved to be a successful day for the Santa Fe Police DWI Task Force. The force, which is part of Operation Descansos, arrested four individuals in Santa Fe County who held outstanding DWI warrants for their arrest.

Although 42 individuals were listed in the warrant roundup, successfully arresting four individuals made a sizable dent in the list because warrant individuals are often difficult to track and arrest. Often, officers must target those on the warrant list early in the morning to catch them before they leave home for the day.

Operation Descansos began on September 26th, 2010. The operation targets outstanding warrants for DWI-related incidents, and it has been very successful. As of press, 898 warrants have been cleared.

New Mexico drunk driving has been a problem for years. In fact, New Mexico is one of the highest-incident states in the United States. The Descansos operation aims to impact the problem of drunk driving by targeting people who have warrants; getting these individuals off the streets and into alcohol treatment programs may heavily impact the numbers of drunk driving related deaths, injuries and accidents.

Alcohol treatment consists of detoxification and therapy, with a particular focus on the underlying causes for alcohol abuse. Centers like New Mexico’s own Vista Taos Renewal Center can help these individuals participate in an alcohol treatment program that could impact them for life, all in a positive way.

If you or someone you love is in need of alcohol treatment, contact New Mexico’s finest in alcohol treatment centers: Vista Taos Renewal Center. If you suffer from alcohol addiction and have yet to find out just how much a DWI arrest can change your life for the worse, get started on sobriety now, before you become a statistic in the Descansos operation.

The “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” keeps its fans on their toes, but the drama hit home hard for Kim Richards. The 47-year old long-time costar of the reality series has battled alcohol addiction for seasons upon seasons, but she has never admitted to an alcohol problem. Until  now.

Richards recently admitted to alcoholism in a reunion show that aired in a three part series on January 30, February 6 and February 13. The Bravo show recounts the star’s struggles in a face-to-face interview with host Andy Cohen.

Cohen bluntly asks Richards, “Can you tell us what you sought treatment for?” Richards answers with some difficulty, “Yeah, I’m an alcoholic. I’m an alcoholic.”

Thankfully, Richards has received the initial alcohol treatment she needed, and as costar Adrienne Maloof said, she is now one step closer to resolving her difficulties with alcoholism. Richards’ sister Kyle may also become one of her biggest recovery supporters, since Kyle has made comments in the past about Richards’ excessive drinking.

As stars begin to seek alcohol treatment, there is hope that fans who may also suffer from alcoholism will be inspired to seek alcohol treatment themselves. Richards’ very public admittance to alcoholism could be a turning point in the lives of fans as well.

For those living in New Mexico, Vista Taos Renewal Center can be the saving grace in alcohol treatment that these fans need. There, alcoholics can receive caring support from an understanding staff along with treatment for underlying issues that may have contributed to alcoholism in the first place.    

When the safety of his baby was at stake, one Oklahoma City man didn’t hesitate to drive while under the influence of alcohol. The man, 25-year old Ramiro Patino, was pulled over at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 17 in the 8100 block of SW 44. He was caught with a partially-drank six pack of beer.

Police received a call from a concerned citizen, who cited that Patino was spotted drinking a beer while driving with an infant in the back seat. Patino was reportedly swerving at the time.

When arrested, Patino shared with the officer that he did not have a license. He was taken to jail, where he called his sister to pick up the baby girl.

It is not clear if Patino was legally drunk at the time of arrest, but it does appear that the man was in fact drinking while driving and putting his daughter at risk.

These signs of alcohol abuse point to a potential alcohol addiction. Patino’s inability to put the safety of his daughter, himself and other drivers in front of his need for alcohol may be a huge indication of alcohol addiction. In addition, other factors may point to addiction.

In general, alcohol addiction is classified as: being unable to control the urge to drink or an inability to control drinking; an inability to stop or refrain from drinking; spending huge amounts of focus and energy on alcohol; and losing interest in other social activities.

Although not a lot is known about Patino’s extenuating circumstances, he could very well suffer from alcohol addiction. However, there is hope: rehabilitation centers like Vista Taos could help him—or anyone else who suffers from alcohol addiction – overcome alcoholism. For more information about Oklahoma alcohol treatment and inpatient treatment programs, please contact Vista Taos in New Mexico to learn about the many paths you can take to sobriety.

When 57-year old Steven Slevin was jailed for two years, he was never given a chance to attend a rehabilitation facility to conquer his alcoholism. In fact, he was not given a chance for many basic human rights.

Slevin was arrested in 2005 for stealing a car and driving while under the influence. Because he was depressed and potentially suicidal, he was tossed into a padded cell for three days and then sent to solitary confinement. He was never offered treatment for his mental health issues.

According to New Mexico’s Dona Ana County jail’s procedures, any inmate who is suffering from mental health problems is immediately sentenced to solitary confinement.

A doctor was assigned to Slevin at the beginning of his solitary sentence, and Slevin received medication without proper treatment. The doctor did not even see Slevin before dispensing the prescription drugs. When Doctor Zemek left the jail staff a few months later, Slevin’s care was assigned to a registered nurse, who continued to prescribe and increase the dosage of the “complicated psychotropic medications.”

Without proper treatment, Slevin’s health and mental well-being deteriorated over the two year stay. He was denied basic necessities, and sometimes his one hour of allotted time outside of the cell was not granted. Even basics like sanitary care were denied: upon release, his fingernails curled; his body weight had decreased to one-third of his original weight; and he had bed sores and a fungal infection.

Of course, without being granted basic care, it may be obvious that Slevin was also denied access to an alcohol rehabilitation facility. Had he been provided proper care and access to an alcohol rehabilitation facility like the nearby Vista Taos Renwal Center of New Mexico, Slevin may have become rehabilitated while in jail. Instead, he now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. It may be also safe to say his alcoholism, while suppressed during his jail stay, will return sometime in the future.

Two men were arrested last month to the tune of a total 30 total combined DWI arrests. Todd Turrietta and Johnny Ignacio both were arrested 15 times each for DWI-related incidents, but their sentencing for the 15th arrest could be no more severe than the first under New Mexico law. How does this act as a deterrent to prevent further drunk driving offenses? Simply stated: it doesn’t.

Lawmakers want to make a change and are pushing to increase the severity for each punishment. Right now, by state law, New Mexico citizens can expect the same time for the crime, no matter if they are repeat DWI offenders or not. In Albuquerque, however, the laws are more severe. Many state officials and citizens would like to see New Mexico as a whole go towards the direction of Albuquerque’s drunk driving laws.

Albuquerque law allows courts to take away the DWI convict’s car and increased jail or prison time for a repeat offense. Each felony conviction of DWI would count against the newest charge, making 10- or 15-year prison sentences a possibility for those who have repeatedly driven under the influence.

According to Governor Susana Martinez, repeat offenders should be punished in a stricter fashion. “Obviously (repeat offenders) haven't taken advantage of the treatment that is being provided by law (and) need to stay off the streets,” Martinez said. The treatment she mentions is New Mexico substance abuse treatment that was more than likely part of their sentencing.

Treatment available to DWI offenders can include substance abuse treatment at an alcohol rehabilitation program. For many DWI convicts, New Mexico’s own Vista Taos Renewal Center is an excellent option for substance abuse treatment. It will only be a matter of time before the laws are brought into effect and those who are convicted will face greater sentences for their DWI crimes. Don’t wait until a judge orders you into substance abuse treatment; seek one out before you end up behind bars. To learn more about an alcohol rehabilitation program in New Mexico, contact Vista Taos Renewal Center to discuss how the program can help you.

In the Houston Police Department, DWI-offending police officers, or those officers who have themselves received a Driving While Impaired charge, may receive a little more leniency in their jobs than may be expected.

The Houston Police Department has been giving a “last chance” to offending officers for around ten years – and possibly longer. The department consensus seems to be that if the officer has been on good behavior in the past, he should not be fired for receiving a DWI. Instead, the officer should be monitored.

Why would the police department take such a stance when they work so hard to keep drunk drivers off the roads? Well, police departments nationwide often spend more than fifty thousand dollars on training each officer. Spending the time and money to train these officers only to lose them due to an issue that may be resolvable doesn’t make much economic sense – not when alcohol rehabilitation programs can play a part in officers’ recoveries. Many police officers carry a lot of baggage with them. The job is very stressful and at some point may even be traumatic. Law enforcement officers are human; mistakes can happen.

Oftentimes, the police department looks at three factors when deciding the outcome of the offending officer’s job. The department determines the extent of injuries, the extent of property damage, and the actual conviction of the officers. A minor incident will often result in quick reinstatement with monitoring and potential alcohol rehabilitation. A major incident may result in a less lenient stance.

Alcohol rehabilitation is available in New Mexico at the Vista Taos Renewal Center, where the recovery program is altered to each case. This case-by-case treatment allows the center to address underlying issues that may influence alcohol addiction. Counseling and family therapies during the alcohol rehabilitation process can help the person to deal with those outside world triggers and learn to exist and resist while living a fulfilling and healthy life.

Binge drinking isn’t just for college students anymore. According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17% of American adults binge drink, which means that they consume more than four (for women) or five (for men) drinks in one occasion. That’s about 38 million U.S. adults, but the percentage could be much higher because many people will not admit to exactly how much they drink.

The highest numbers of binge drinking still occur in the college-aged population (18- to 24-year olds), with 28% of the people in this age range admitting to binge drinking. Men are much more likely to binge drink than women.

Older adults, though, also admit to binge drinking. In fact, those aged 65 and older were more likely to binge drink more frequently. Although the majority of other binge drinking groups drank in excess about four times per month, drinkers aged 65 and older reported that they binge drink five to six times per month.

Binge drinking habits also vary by location. Wisconsin drinkers were most likely to binge drink, with 25.9% of the adult population bingeing. However, Kentucky drinkers were most likely to participate in binge drinking more often, with an average of six binge drinking occasions per month. Utah, West Virginia and New Jersey residents had the lowest levels of binge drinking. 

Unfortunately, binge drinking can harm individuals’ health. It can increase the odds of liver and stomach problems, certain cancers, being involved in car accidents and can bring about many bad decisions during the intoxication phase. Many binge drinkers would therefore benefit from an alcohol treatment program.

At an alcohol treatment program like Vista Taos in New Mexico, program residents can participate in an alcohol treatment program that meets their individual needs. For more information, contact an alcohol treatment program near you today.

The New Years’ weekend was busy for police departments across the country. As each precinct focused on keeping drivers who were under the influence off the roads, they made many arrests.

In Dallas on New Years’ weekend, 31 people were arrested for driving under the influence. This number is lower than last year’s 34 arrests, and perhaps this year’s “no refusal” initiative influenced drivers to celebrate more responsibly. 

From Dec. 30, 2011 to Jan. 2, 2012, the Dallas Police Department enforced the “no refusal” initiative. This acting law states that any driver who refuses to take an alcohol breath test will be subject to the warrant process, wherein the arresting police officer obtains a warrant to draw the driver’s blood.

This process expedited the standard arrest protocol. During normal daily law in Dallas, drivers are able to refuse a breath test upon arrest and wait until they arrive at the station to have their blood drawn. In many cases, the extra time spent booking the citizen could allow him or her to become sober enough to pass the blood test with a legal blood alcohol content.

 Dallas and San Antonio both adopted the “no refusal” initiative over the weekend, and the Dallas P.D. was able to make six arrests over the weekend due to the initiative: six persons refused the breath tests; warrants and tests were issued; and the offending citizens were arrested.

After the successes seen during the initiative period, speculation abounds that the initiative will be adopted as daily law in parts of Texas.  

For those who face alcohol abuse and/or drunk driving issues, the implementation of this potential law could be the driving force needed to seek alcohol rehab assistance. Alcohol rehab programs, like Vista Taos in New Mexico, can help alcoholics overcome the underlying issues that lead to addiction. Alcoholism can cause a long list of problems. It can damage your heath, your relationships and bring about legal problems. If you or a loved one need help, contact Vista Taos’ alcohol rehab program to learn more. Located in New Mexico, clients from the Dallas Texas area, as well as other surrounding cities in Texas and southern states have found help within Vista Taos.

For those people in and around Santa Fe, New Mexico, who are interested in preventing drunken driving, the DWI Planning Council is seeking new members. Community members with a background in media, emergency services, law enforcement and legal counsel are invited to apply.

The DWI Planning Council works to document the county’s problems with alcoholism. The council also assesses the resources needed to fight the county’s alcohol abuse problems, which include screening, assessment, sentencing, treatment and prevention.

To be considered for appointment to the council, community members must attend at least two DWI Planning Council meetings and submit a letter of interest, a resume, a questionnaire, and a conflict of interest form to the Santa Fe County Health and Human Services Division, Attention Steve Shepherd. To obtain the forms, Shepherd may be contacted by phone at (505) 992-9840 or email at sshepher@santafecounty.org. 

Council meetings are held at 2052 Galisteo Street, Suite B Conference Room, and the next meeting dates are December 15, 2011; January 12, 2012; and February 9, 2012. The application deadline is December 19, 2011.

Alcohol abuse has reportedly been a problem in New Mexico for years, in addition to the many drug problems that the state faces. To combat such statistics as the 2006 stats that placed New Mexico at one of the highest rates of alcohol related death (2006 stats listed NM deaths related to alcohol abuse as 1.7 times national average), the DWI Planning Council was established.  

To date, the DWI program has introduced media events that have reached 13 million (duplicated) persons, and it has served over 27,000 residents through prevention activities for the entire community. The hope is that such efforts will decrease the rate of alcohol abuse throughout the city and the county.

For more information about alcohol abuse treatment and prevention, please contact Vista Taos Renewal Center.

A guard employed at the Rio Arriba County Detention Center in Tierra Armarilla was caught drinking at a casino hotel, leaving a 9 year old child in charge of 2 other young children. None of the children were harmed; they remained in their hotel room while Issac Maestas drank at the casino resort with friends. The mother of the children is also a jail guard, and was working at the Santa Fe County Jail at the time of the incident.

Because of Maestas’ employment with the Rio Arriba jail, he was arrested and booked with the Santa Fe Police Department. The children, ages 9, 4 and 2 were released to their mother. He is also facing 3 charges of child endangerment. Police received a call from a 9 year old boy from the hotel saying he did not know where his father was and was scared, saying his siblings were there with him. Police traced the call and were able to locate Maestas with the cooperation of the 9 year old child.

Upon entering the hotel room, police officers discovered the 3 children all present and unharmed. There were empty containers of alcohol within reach of the children as well as opened containers still containing substantial amounts of liquid in them; surveillance video shows the children were left alone for about an hour before the authorities arrived. The entire situation could have ended in a tragedy had the oldest child not called for help; Maestas may end up serving jail time for the child endangerment charges, but he most definitely will need some sort of assistance from an alcohol treatment center.

Usually, when a conviction includes drugs or alcohol, the sentence includes treatment of some sort. North of Santa Fe in the village of Taos, alcohol treatment center Vista Taos can offer treatment options beyond the standard 12-step processes in the traditional clinic settings. If you could benefit from an alcohol treatment center near Santa Fe, New Mexico, please give Vista Taos Renewal Center a call to learn more about getting started on the recovery process.