SCRAM of California

Sober Days for the Holidays

administrator — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 21:42:34 +0000

Next Wednesday is infamous. It is Thanksgiving Eve, otherwise known as Blackout Wednesday, and it is now considered one of the drinking days of the year, especially among college students and in larger urban areas. Data shows it even surpasses St. Patrick’s day for rates of drinking, drug overdoses, relapses, DUIs, and other alcohol-related crimes. Since we opened SCRAM of California in 2010, we’ve dedicated every holiday season to our Sober Days for the Holidays campaign, working to drive awareness of the risks for clients, their families, and their communities. The season is full of both increased triggers–family stress, work (or no work), rates of depression, financial hardships–and opportunities, like holiday parties, with temptations at ever turn. As stewards of the communities in which our teams live and work, we offer special programs during the holiday season in an effort to support our court and agency partners as you work to reduce the risks of DUIs, domestic violence, overdoses, and violations. Record numbers of drivers will hit our highways this holiday season. We are committed to helping them stay safe and sober. Check out this infographic [PDF] for more statistics on drinking, drugs, and impaired driving during the Holidays.

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[Infographic] Sober Days for the Holidays

administrator — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 23:00:33 +0000

The holidays are here, and as friends and family across the U.S. come together to celebrate, the potential for dangerous roads and communities escalates. On average, 40% of traffic deaths during the holidays are tied to alcohol. Those figures are especially troubling given that more than 40 million Americans plan to hit the road in the coming days. Recognizing the increased risks of the season, each year we partner with our courts and agencies to generate 56,367 Sober Days for the Holidays through our SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring® program, providing accountability and monitored sobriety for your highest-risk clients during the toughest time of the year. Learn more about the dangers this holiday season by viewing this informative infographic: Click to Enlarge

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The Scary Truth About Halloween and Drinking

administrator — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 17:26:17 +0000

In a few weeks, trick-or-treaters will wander the streets and neighborhoods, filling bags with their evening’s bounty. But sadly, Halloween brings out more than just mini goblins, ghosts, and ghouls. Each year, the holiday sees a sizable increase in the number of DUIs and other alcohol-related incidents. The numbers show that Halloween is one of the deadliest days of the year on the roads: 36% of pedestrian fatalities on Halloween night involve a drunk driver. Children are more than twice as likely to be killed by a car while walking on Halloween night. Learn more about the dangers this Halloween by viewing this informative infographic: Click to Enlarge

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24/7 Sobriety and Continuous Alcohol Monitoring Could Help Save Lives

Domenica Cardenas — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 20:38:04 +0000

Hitting Close to Home As a Program Development Manager and Court Liaison for SCRAM of California, I often witness how alcoholism ruins peoples’ lives. I have also seen my friend’s and family’s lives destroyed due to alcoholism. While I’m from a culture that driving under the influence is something “normal,” my father was adamant about the dangers of driving under the influence and would always remind me and my family about the consequences of getting behind the wheel drunk. He encouraged us to always have a designated sober driver. And as a child, I even remember my father and I going on bus rides to the store after he had a few drinks. One night, over Memorial Day weekend in 2013, my father was legally crossing the road and an impaired driver drove through the intersection hitting him. He sustained head trauma and was killed by someone who decided to get behind the wheel intoxicated. This is something that was 100% preventable. I know how it feels to lose a loved one due to someone’s bad and unnecessary choice. A Young Life Taken to Soon In September of 2016, as the Dunn family was on the right shoulder of the freeway waiting to be helped after they ran out of gas, an SUV crashed into the back of their stalled car. Three children and their mom were rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, three-year-old Elijah Dunn succumbed to his injuries and did not survive. The other children and mother were severely injured. Another life was unnecessarily taken away by a drunk driver. The suspected drunk driver, 40-year-old Liliana Malihan, was arrested for driving under the influence and was released on bail a couple of months prior to the fatal crash. Records show Malihan was facing three charges, including driving under the influence and child cruelty. She was also driving on a temporary license the night of the crash. She was immediately arrested the night of the crash and has been formally charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence causing injury. On May 2017, Malihan was arrested again for alleged public intoxication. She is facing up to 11 years in prison if convicted. 24/7 Sobriety Program With SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring Crashes and tragedies resulting from repeat drunk drivers might be avoidable if offenders like Malihan were placed in a 24/7 Sobriety Program, a program that has reduced recidivism, cut jail and prison populations, and saved tax dollars by incorporating enhanced monitoring and real accountability. The program requires individuals arrested for or convicted of alcohol-involved offenses to submit to breathalyzer tests twice daily or wear a SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring bracelet at all times. Positive tests result in swift and certain, though modest, penalties, such as a day or two in jail. The approach is based on the idea that the certainty and rapidity, rather than the severity of the punishment more effectively deters problem drinking. SCRAM Program Resources South Dakota 24/7 Sobriety Program Resources, varying from program statistics, overviews of the program, contact information and links to additional information. Visit website » Efficacy of Frequent Monitoring With Swift, Certain, and Modest Sanctions for Violations: Insights From South Dakota’s 24/7 Sobriety Project American Public Health Association and RAND View Abstract »

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Drugged at the Wheel: Legal Marijuana and Driving in California

Ariel Vollero — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 02:00:12 +0000

The passing of Proposition 64, “The Adult Use of Marijuana Act” propelled California to join the growing number of states legalizing marijuana for personal use. With this, California has also joined the difficult battle of understanding where law enforcement and the legal community stand regarding Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID). Law enforcement and state prosecutors are now faced with the harrowing challenge of determining what ‘under the influence’ means, how to determine if someone is under the influence, and how to quantify the equivalent of a .08% BAC. To stay in front of this new law, California Highway Patrol has been tasked with determining new and better standards to determine reliable limits and testing methods of marijuana, receiving $3 million a year for the next five years to do so. Increase in Driving Under the Influence of Drugs While research has shown that marijuana is a safe substance, the way chemicals in cannabis plants are processed by the body still makes it highly dangerous to operate a vehicle while under the influence. Cannabis affects an individual’s sensory perception making their reaction times delayed, impairing their judgment, and decreasing coordination. According to the San Diego Union Tribune, 30 people were arrested on suspicion of drugged driving in the first half of 2016. In 2017, between January and June, there were 69 arrests! San Diego County Sheriff’s Assitant, Mike Barnett, says he has seen a large increase in drivers caught driving under the influence of drugs. In a recent incident on Easter Sunday, Hyun Jeong Choi collided with a raised median on Pomerado Road in Scripps Ranch, causing her car to spin counter-clockwise and crash directly into Jon Warshawsky’s vehicle. The collision killed Amanda Walzer, Warshawasky’s life partner, and left him with severe brain injuries and paralysis. What caused this tragic collision? Inside Ms. Choi’s car investigators found a glass marijuana pipe sitting inside her center console, still hot from recent use. To say marijuana was the sole contributor to the crash would be inaccurate, but it most certainly played a significant role in the sudden death of Amanda Walzer. How Much is Too Much Pot? After alcohol, marijuana is the drug most often found in the blood of drivers involved in crashes, including fatal ones. Due to THC’s lingering presence in the body, it is difficult to determine the role marijuana plays in vehicle crashes. A 2015 National Institute on Drug Abuse study quantified the effects of marijuana equivalent to alcohol. 13.1 mg/ml of THC alone is roughly equivalent to .08% BAC; 8 ng/ml THC alone is roughly equivalent to .05% BAC; 5 ng/ml TCH in combination with .05% BAC is roughly equivalent to .08% BAC. The Public’s Stigma Isn’t There Yet Driving under the influence of marijuana puts you, your passengers, and other drivers at risk. Any mind-altering drug makes it unsafe to operate a vehicle, yet Just Think Twice, a drug information website run by the Drug Enforcement Agency says that 23% of 13 million driving-aged teens admitted to driving under the influence. That’s nearly 3 million impaired teen drivers on the road. Furthermore, a 2015 Gallup poll found that 70% of Americans think that it isn’t dangerous to drive while high on marijuana. And of those same individuals polled, 79% found it a very serious problem to drive while impaired by alcohol. Despite there not being a solid foundation to base how dangerous it is or the level to which a person needs to be high for it to be unsafe, driving while your cognitive abilities are compromised is dangerous and illegal. California Drugged Driving Penalties The penalties for driving under the influence of drugs are the same California DUI penalties that apply to driving under the influence of alcohol cases. In most cases, VC 23152(e) DUI of drugs is a misdemeanor in California. The consequences may include: DUI probation for 3 to 5 years fines (usually around $1800 for a first offense) completion of a California DUI school, a driver’s license suspension. a possible jail sentence depending on the county where it happens, your prior record and the circumstances. But Vehicle Code 23152(e) DUID can be filed as a felony if it’s your fourth or subsequent DUI offense, you have even one prior felony DUI conviction, or your driving causes an accident that injures a third party.

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Veterans court gets grant for monitoring

administrator — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 15:35:04 +0000

Havasu News | June 15, 2017 The Lake Havasu City Veterans Court last week received a $20,000 grant toward its use of Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM) ankle monitors. The money was granted by the Arizona Disabled Veterans Foundation to representatives from Havasu’s Disabled American Veterans (DAV) group in a June 8 ceremony in Tucson. DAV quickly gave that money to the Veterans Court, which attempts to monitor and educate veterans who have entered Havasu’s criminal justice system. The court’s aim is to reduce recidivism among Havasu’s veteran community and assist such veterans in leading normal, productive lives. According to DAV organizer Bud Watts, the ankle monitors can help. “The problem the Veterans Court has is…they’re a court,” Watts said. “They don’t have a bank account to accept donations like this. We stepped in and applied for a grant for the court. In this case, it’s for SCRAM devices, specifically to monitor people for alcohol use.” Read More

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24/7 Sobriety Programs Combined With Domestic Violence Cases

Noah Leathers — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 00:20:45 +0000

Domestic violence is something I witnessed as a child growing up in my home. I saw the way it tore a home apart like the stormy sea on a stranded vessel. The screaming, physical violence and the sense of hopelessness can be too much for anyone to handle especially for the child/children involved. I can say that all too many times I watched my mother drink alcohol until no end until all her inhibitions seemed to dissolve like the alcohol in the bottle. It was confusing and extremely terrifying to see the beast inside someone come out in full force, taking control of every ounce of my mother. She became more depressed, angry, irritated, mentally unstable, disconnected, and confused. As it may seem that my mom is this evil woman, I can say that is not true. She struggled for most of her life with her own demons and past issues that became something that lived in the shadows of her mind like the bats in the night’s sky. Always there, but hard to see, and hard to address especially while under the influence. My mother is a great and kind woman who was a victim herself. As I look back on those days of complete horror I realize that there was such a correlation with my mother’s alcohol and drug problem as well as her need to control and power my father and household. It was a powder keg that was laced with nails ready to shred through the victims involved. Therefore, I actively believe that the combination of alcohol/drug monitoring/treatment and counseling is an absolute need. The Correlation Between Alcohol and Domestic Violence The case study, “Drugs, Alcohol, and Domestic Violence in Memphis,” by the National Institute of Justice places an alarming statistic of 92% regarding alcohol or drug abuse on the day of domestic abuse. Most professionals would say that alcohol abuse does not cause domestic violence, but it can be a factor in making the incident worse. The use of alcohol affects anyone’s ability to process information and in a lot of situations misinterpret what we are being told or is happening. We can see that having an issue with processing information and misinterpreting what is really occurring could increase the severity or chances of prevention in domestic violence. The Department of Justice, in a study performed in 1994, found that more than half of the defendants who committed murder of their spouse were drinking alcohol at the time. (Bureau of Justice Statistic, Domestic Violence, Violence between Intimates. 1994). The Impact of Domestic Violence on Victims When it regards the victim in these cases we are reminded of the impacts that occur due to the abuse of domestic violence. The World Health Organization states, “The impacts of intimate partner violence are wide-ranging. For the victim, health effects include physical injury, which for some women may lead to pregnancy complications or miscarriage), emotional problems leading to suicide, suicidal ideation and depression, and alcohol or drug abuse as a method of coping.” (World Health Organization Intimate Partner Violence and Alcohol Fact Sheet, pg. 3). Then there are children that are sometimes forgotten. Studies indicate that children who live in homes with a history of alcohol or drug abuse are more probable to suffer from physical, emotional, and sexual abuse (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. (2003) “Substance Abuse and Child Maltreatment.” National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect and Information). 24/7 Sobriety Programs for Domestic Violence Cases Punishments for domestic violence can range from actual custody time, probation, restraining orders, relinquished custody of their children, or counseling/classes such as the “52-Week Domestic Battery Class.” Occasionally the Criminal/Family Courts involved will order treatment, AA/NA, or drug and alcohol counseling if alcohol or drugs is a nexus to the crime. It is rare that the courts in these cases also order alcohol or drug monitoring as this may not be needed for every situation. It can still be a tool that can be used to benefit the public as well as the offender. 24/7 Sobriety Programs, typically applied in cases that involve DUI offenders, are starting to be used as a tool for a multitude of other offenses in our justice system, including domestic violence. The program requires individuals arrested for or convicted of alcohol-involved offenses to submit to breathalyzer tests twice daily or wear a Continuous Alcohol Monitoring Bracelet. Positive tests result in swift and certain, though modest, penalties, such as a day or two in jail. The approach is based on the idea that the certainty and rapidity, rather than the severity of the punishment, more effectively deters problem drinking. The fact that someone has abused/assaulted another while under the influence can show a need not only for counseling but alcohol/drug monitoring combined with treatment to ensure complete offender accountability. Monitoring an individual’s alcohol/drug sobriety can and has shown an increase in the reduction of recidivism, as well as a decrease in failure to appears to court, classes, and other mandated programs. “The comprehensive monitoring and care management model under development for the 24/7 Sobriety Project has wide applicability within the criminal justice system, well beyond the DUI offense, because alcohol and illegal drug use are major contributors to crime and incarceration. This program demonstrates a powerful ability to stop alcohol and drug use as well as the criminal behavior that alcohol and drug use often lead to among arrested offenders. The program has been extended to a wide range of criminal charges related to alcohol and drug use, including domestic violence and civil abuse and neglect cases. These changes show the broad applicability of the 24/7 Sobriety Project, far beyond the original focus on DUI offenders and alcohol use.” National Partnership on Alcohol Misuse and Crime The South Dakota 24/7 Sobriety Project, November 2010 It is for the benefit of the offender, victim, and community to monitor the offender’s sobriety while they are participating in their domestic battery classes and other court-mandated programs. […]

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Client Success Story: 183 Days Wearing the SCRAM CAM Bracelet

Heidi Arredondo — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 15:47:15 +0000

At SCRAM of California, we hear from clients all the time about the daily successes they are experiencing while participating in our SCRAM CAM Program. One story in particular stood out as a hallmark for how SCRAM CAM supports long-term behavior change in alcohol-involved clients. Here’s Wallace’s story. Wallace, whose name we’ve changed for privacy, is a 61-year-old married man with two adult children. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, sailing, flying and traveling. Wallace explained that the main reasons why he used alcohol were to cope with the stresses of work and dealing with his terminally-ill sister. He would binge on alcohol when he felt depressed, overwhelmed with responsibility, and to help with sleepless nights. After being arrested for another DUI, Wallace felt disappointment from his family, was facing significant jail time, and the real possibility of losing his job. Wallace initially volunteered for the SCRAM CAM program to demonstrate to the court his willingness and ability to control his dependence on alcohol. After appearing in court, the Judge agreed and approved his continued stay in the program. A Different Way to Overcome Alcohol Dependence Prior to being fitted with the SCRAM CAM bracelet, Wallace attempted to overcome his alcohol dependence many times in the past. He had worked with doctors, addiction specialists, and used medications to help with depression and sleeplessness. After several attempts, Wallace felt these steps were just not enough and searched for something different. He learned about the SCRAM CAM program from a friend who had gone through similar experiences. After enrolling in the program, Wallace noticed a positive change right away. He lost nearly 30 pounds and feels stronger both physically and emotionally. He learned that physical health plays a large part in managing his depression and knowing that he could not sneak a drink without being caught made it easier for him to avoid even thinking about picking up the bottle. “This program has been the most effective treatment to control my alcohol addiction,” said Wallace after being on the SCRAM CAM program for 183 days. “Even in situations where others are drinking around me, I don’t have the desire to drink.” Since his start on the SCRAM CAM program, his family’s reaction has been extremely positive. Wallace’s wife has truly appreciated the results and their relationship has improved. His kids are glad that he is doing so well and says that his family relationships have strengthened now that his demeanor has improved so much. “The most positive change in my life since enrolling has been that rather than escaping from life, I’m engaged all the time,” Wallace said. “Furthermore, I no longer avoid dealing with issues and take care of them right away.”

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The Dangers of Binge Drinking and St. Patrick’s Day

Jordan Silveira — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 22:52:14 +0000

St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday recognized throughout the world originally rooted in the celebration of Saint Patrick of Ireland. However, this holiday has spun itself into a celebration for many things, celebrated by many different individuals. These individuals come from all walks of life, not just those who are Irish. These celebrations come in a variety of forms, from something as harmless as wearing green clothes to more dangerous activities like binge drinking. Many know the phrase that “numbers don’t lie” and if that’s to be believed, then St. Patrick’s Day is no laughing matter when it comes to the dire consequences resulting from this holiday and the choices many intoxicated individuals make during their celebration of St. Patrick. St. Patrick’s Day & Drinking Infographic Download Infographic Statistics show that 13 million pints of Guinness beer will be consumed on St. Patrick’s Day and what’s more alarming is that approximately every 1.25 hours, a life will be claimed due to alcohol-related car crashes on this holiday. From 2011-2015, 252 casualties resulted from drunk drivers on St. Patrick’s Day. Of these fatal car crashes, an enormous 75% of them involved drivers who had consumed 2 times the legal limit of alcohol! As it can be seen, alcohol-related offenses such as drunk driving DO NOT discriminate against any individual. Many throughout the world are tragically affected by St. Patrick’s Day regardless of their nationality, religion, size, gender, wealth, etc. We all have a vested interest and duty to keep our communities safe with Saint Patrick’s Day coming up! Therefore, it is imperative that we do our best to eliminate the dire consequences that routinely result from a holiday that was traditionally meant to celebrate St. Patrick from Ireland in the best of ways with the most positive intentions, not in intoxicated fashion with tragic results. Learn more about how SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring can help keep the community safe this St. Patrick’s Day.

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8 DUIs Shouldn’t Be the New Normal

Valerie Williams — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 20:27:39 +0000

We have all read or heard about the horrific car crashes that involve the careless actions of a drunk driver, but have you ever heard of someone charged with 8 DUI offenses? On January 29, 2017, Derek Stacy Haskayne, 52, crashed into and landed on top of a Southern California Edison electrical box igniting live wires. Placentia police department in Orange County, California responded to the call at the 100 block of South Lakeview Avenue. When police arrived, they found Haskayne attempting to flee from the scene and police quickly discovered that he was not only under the influence of alcohol, but had been arrested for the same offense a disturbing 8 times before. How does this happen? A first-time DUI offense in Orange County carries a penalty of 4 days to 6 months in the county jail. For most this is a strong deterrent to drink and drive again, but evidently, Haskayne didn’t get the message. Due to Haskayne’s prior DUI arrests, he was placed on post-release community supervision, a failed endeavor to monitor his multiple DUI offenses while in the community. Court ordered to obtain an ignition interlock device, Haskayne still found ways to drive amongst law abiding citizens and place our community at risk. The community of Placentia deserved to know that an 8-time DUI offender was driving along side of them unmonitored. SCRAM of California manages alcohol programs to address this very issue for courts and agencies in Orange County. The SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring bracelet combines 24/7 transdermal alcohol testing with optional house arrest monitoring in one device. Designed for high-risk, repeat DUI, drunk driving, and other alcohol offenders, the SCRAM system and program is the world’s most widely used and trusted 24/7 transdermal alcohol testing system on the market today. Our SCRAM monitoring program: Enforces public safety Provides continuous supervision of DUI offenders Reduces recidivism by 45% in hardcore DUI offenders compared to non-wearers (National Center for State Courts, 2009) Is alcohol specific and non-invasive With this program readily available in Orange County, why was Derek Stacy Haskayne not court ordered to participate in the SCRAM of California program where he would have been monitored and held accountable for his actions? As a community, these are the questions we need to be asking.

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