Cornerstone - Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission for Greenwood, Edgefield, McCormick and Abbeville counties in South Carolina

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels as low as .03 percent - approximately one drink for a woman and two drinks for a man - can impair driving ability. In South Carolina, individuals are presumed to be driving under the influence (DUI) if they have a BAC of .10 percent or greater. DUI can result in arrest, fines and loss of a driver's license. It also can result in injury, property damage and death.

Are there "safe" levels of alcohol consumption?

The Nation's Dietary Guidelines offer the following recommendations for low-risk alcohol consumption. First, the guidelines recognize abstinence as an acceptable choice. Second, for adults (ages 21 and older) who choose to drink and do not fall into any of the high-risk categories identified below, the guidelines recommend limiting consumption to no more than one drink a day for a woman or no more than two drinks a day for a man, consumed on no more than five days per week, at a rate no faster than one drink per hour. Alcohol consumption that exceeds these limits is considered to be high risk because it is associated with adverse health consequences and/or risk of dependence. High-risk use can be dangerous and is discouraged in all situations.

Finally, the Council on Alcohol Policy of the National Association for Public Health Policy has established guidelines that identify people who are at high risk of experiencing problems related to the use of alcohol. For these individuals, there is no "safe" level of consumption. Specifically, the following individuals are considered to be at high risk and are encouraged to abstain from drinking altogether:

anyone with a personal history of dependence on alcohol, tobacco or other drugs;
anyone with a strong family history of depression, or alcohol or other drug dependence;
anyone who is driving or operating machinery;
anyone who is using other depressant drugs (including over-the-counter medications);
anyone who is using other psychoactive drugs;
anyone younger than the legal purchase age of 21 (except in the presence of a parent or legal guardian as provided by state law, or in religious ceremonies);
anyone who is pregnant, considering pregnancy or breast-feeding a baby;
anyone who is under stress; or
anyone with other physical or psychological conditions that make alcohol consumption unhealthy.

What are the legal consequences surrounding alcohol, tobacco or other drug abuse?

Laws, fines and penalties surrounding alcohol, tobacco and other drug use differ from state to state, and are also regulated by the federal government.

Tobacco - On Aug. 21, 2006, new laws go into effect in South Carolina regarding tobacco.
- A clerk who sells tobacco products to someone under age 18 face a $100 fine for a first offense, $200 fine for a second offense (occurring within three years of the first), and a $300 fine for a third or subsequent offense (occurring within three years of the first). All offenses are misdemeanors. The clerk may be required to attend a DAODAS-approved Merchant Education program in lieu of the fine.
- Retailers who sell to minors risk federal civil penalties ranging from fines of $250 to up to $10,000 or more.
- A youth under age 18 caught in possession or attempting to possess tobacco products face a $25 fine. The youth may complete a DHEC-approved prevention or smoking cessation program or may complete five hours of community service in lieu of the fine.
Alcohol - In South Carolina, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase or possess alcohol. Like tobacco, penalties exist for anyone who sells or otherwise provides alcohol to a person under 21. It is also illegal in South Carolina to drive a car or boat under the influence of alcohol. For both driving under the influence (DUI) and boating while under the influence (BUI), a person is considered to be under the influence if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08 percent or greater. Both DUI and BUI can result in arrest, fines and loss of a license, as well as cause injury, property damage and death.
Illicit Drugs - The possession of illicit drugs is also illegal, regardless of age, for anyone in South Carolina. Specifically, it is illegal to have, make or intend to distribute any controlled substance in South Carolina. Penalties vary depending on the circumstances and the particular drug, but may include a suspended driver's license for up to one year, fines and imprisonment. If someone in your home is using drugs, you will have to prove the drug is not yours to escape punishment.

Is it safe to use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs during pregnancy?

No. Many serious health problems and birth defects can occur if a woman uses alcohol, tobacco and other drugs during pregnancy. For this reason, the U.S Surgeon General and other healthcare professionals encourage women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, as well as those who are breast-feeding, to abstain from all types of alcohol - beer, wine, wine coolers and distilled liquor - during this critical time. It's also best for pregnant and breast-feeding women to avoid the use of tobacco products and illicit drugs and to follow the doctor's orders with regard to other prescription and over-the-counter medications.

How much alcohol is in one drink?

Many people think that there is less alcohol in beer and wine than in distilled spirits. However, the same amount of alcohol, six-tenths of one ounce, is contained in the following: a five-ounce glass of table wine (12 percent alcohol by volume); a 12-ounce beer (5 percent alcohol by volume); one and one-half ounces (one "shot") of 80 proof liquor (40 percent alcohol by volume); and one 12-ounce wine cooler (5 percent alcohol by volume). Even though the beverages differ, the alcohol's effect on the body by volume is the same.

Is there a link between HIV/AIDS and alcohol and other drug abuse?

Substance abuse and HIV/AIDS have been described as linked epidemics. Behavior associated with drug abuse is the largest factor in the spread of HIV in the United States. Injection drug use and unsafe sexual practices with multiple partners or with known injection drug users resulting from alcohol and other drug use are leading causes of HIV infection. Evidence also suggests that alcohol and other drug use may suppress the immune system, making people who use these substances more prone to HIV infection.

What should I do if I think I have been exposed to HIV?

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) offers free and confidential HIV testing for anyone who requests it. Pre- and post-test counseling is available for everyone who takes the test, regardless of HIV status. If the test is negative, post-test counseling can help individuals learn how to prevent future infection. If the test is positive, post-test counseling can help them deal with the medical and psychological issues associated with knowledge of HIV infection.

Regardless of whether the test is positive or negative, it is important to engage in safe sexual practices and abstain from drug use to avoid future infection and to protect others from infection. In South Carolina, it is a crime for an individual who knows he is HIV positive to engage in sex or share needles with another person without first informing that person of his HIV status. For more information, call DHEC's HIV/AIDS hotline at 1-800-322-AIDS.

(Source: SC DAODAS)