When one reads newspaper headlines, it is noticeable how many prominent people are affected by drug and alcohol abuse. A quick scan of some recent headlines reveals that Charlie Sheen’s ex-wife was arrested recently in Aspen on assault and cocaine possession charges; the former Miss USA, Rima Fakih was arrested in Michigan on drunk driving charges; and most recently (December 6, 2011), the chief of the Federal Aviation Administration, Randy Babbitt stepped down from his position following an arrest for drunken driving in Fairfax City, VA. Police stopped Babbitt after they spotted him driving on the wrong side of the road.
Babbitt’s arrest information was made public in accordance with a Fairfax City police general order that says they will release information on any arrest of public officials, including federal officials, for any criminal charge or serious traffic charge (e.g. driving under the influence, reckless driving).
The FAA has been in the spotlight for the past few years and suffered weeks of criticism following revelations last spring that at least nine air traffic controllers had fallen asleep on the job or were unresponsive to calls.
The FAA has also been plagued by a rash of pilots who were violating federal regulations regarding alcohol and flying.
In November of 2009, a United Airlines pilot was arrested in London’s Heathrow airport before takeoff for allegedly drinking too much before entering the cockpit.
In 2008, 13 pilots violated the Federal Aviation Administration’s alcohol-related rules. Their rules state that pilots can’t fly if they have a blood-alcohol level of 0.04% or higher, half the legal driving limit in most states. They are prohibited from drinking any alcohol in the eight hours before reporting for work, a provision known in the profession as the “bottle-to-throttle” rule.
British law is even stricter with a 0.02% limit, a level which can be reached with about one regular beer.
Despite these regulations and attempts to have other crew members look out for the safety of all passengers, alcohol is a pervasive problem, and not just among professional pilots.
The problem of alcohol abuse reaches to the top and bottom rungs of society, and once an alcoholic, it is extremely hard to break free of the addiction. Anyone can have a few drinks from time to time, but when an otherwise rational person chooses to drink excessively despite the damage it may be causing to their health, work, finances, and relationships, and they cannot quit of their own accord, it may be termed alcoholism.
Only effective alcohol abuse rehab programs with a proven track record can ensure that you or a family member will become free of this societal and personal curse.
Narconon objectives have been helping alcoholics and other drug addicts to live sober and drug-free lives for 45 years. Narconon has programs all over the world, in six continents and more than 40 countries.
For Narconon school drug education programs to help educate kids about alcohol and other harmful drugs, contact a Narconon center today.
Resources:
http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/news/a/drugnews.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-11-12-pilot-drinking-episodes_N.htm