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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.

Citizens caught driving drunk in 15 US states may face the issuance of a vehicle interlock system as part of their penalty, effective Jan. 1. On the first of January, Connecticut became the 15th state to require the interlock system for all drivers – even first time offenders – who are convicted of driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit.

Other states also participate in the interlock program, to a lesser degree; 24 other states require that repeat offenders or highly drunk drivers (those with a BAC above 0.15) have the interlock system installed in their cars after conviction.

The interlock system is a device that is installed into the ignition of the car. When installed, the car cannot be started until the driver cleanly blows into a breathalyzer. A sober driver may drive; a driver influenced by alcohol may not.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the group that has most heavily pushed for the state-mandated interlock system, believes that the device can save lives. If a driver who is under the influence of alcohol tries to start his car, he will not be able to until he sobers up, meaning that fewer drunk drivers will be on the road to cause harm.

As more and more states join the current 15 who immediately issue interlock systems for any driver convicted of driving while drunk, more people speculate that other states will join the less lenient program – or even require the system be installed in all cars, regardless of a drunk driving conviction.

The interlock system is only one step to keeping drunk drivers off the roads. Helping alcoholics recover at a substance abuse treatment center is also integral to minimizing drunk driving. Substance abuse treatment centers can help alcoholics realize how much harm drunk driving can cause.

For more information about alcohol rehab, please call Vista Taos Renewal Center, a premier substance abuse treatment center located in New Mexico, one of the first states to require the interlock devices for drunk driving offenders.

Choosing a drug rehabilitation center is often a difficult and overwhelming process, and one of the quickest ways to narrow down your list of options is by location. If you live in or near New Mexico, you'll find that you don't have to go far to find excellent addiction treatment services. When it comes to drug rehab, New Mexico has a great deal to offer. Whether you're looking for outpatient treatment, short term residential rehab, or a more extended stay in residential drug rehab, New Mexico is a great place to start your search.

New Mexico is no stranger to the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse. National statistics collected by U.S. government agencies have consistently placed New Mexico among the worst in the nation when it comes to problems related to substance abuse, and the state has been working to better serve its residents when it comes to issues of drug and alcohol abuse. In addition to drug rehab, New Mexico is working to implement laws, policies, and funding methods to improve drug abuse prevention and treatment.

The economic cost of substance abuse is of particular concern to New Mexico, which ranks as one of the poorest states in the U.S. With more than 18% of residents living in poverty, the fact that New Mexico has among the nation's highest rates of substance abuse-related health problems is troubling. For example, New Mexico consistently ranks as one of the worst in the nation on statistics relating to alcohol abuse. The state's death rate from diseases related to alcoholism, such as alcohol-related liver disease, have been 1.5 to 2 times the national rate for the past 15 years. During the same time, the death rate for alcohol-related injury stayed fairly steady at 1.4 to 1.8 times the national rate.

Alcoholism is not the only substance abuse problem New Mexico is experiencing. The state's close proximity to Mexico and the existence of two major highways have combined to create a serious problem with drug trafficking in New Mexico. Mexico is a source of illicit drugs like cocaine and heroin as well as prescription drugs, which can be obtained legally in Mexico and then diverted into New Mexico for illegal use. As these drugs make their way into the United States through New Mexico, they contribute to the state's problem with abuse of illicit and prescription drugs.

Since 2003, New Mexico has seen a 250% increase in deaths caused by illicit and prescription drug overdoses. According to 2007 statistics, prescription opioid painkillers—such as methadone, oxycodone and hydrocodone—were the leading cause of overdose death in New Mexico, followed by cocaine, heroin, tranquilizers and muscle relaxants, and antidepressants. Drug abuse starts young in the state, with high school students reporting rates of marijuana, cocaine, inhalant, heroin, methamphetamine, and Ecstasy use that are higher than the national average.