Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #117015

Linda C. Degutis, DrPH¹, Norman A. Giesbrecht, PhD², Gina Stoduto, MA³, Helen Sayward, MA¹, and Traci L. Toomey, MPH, PhD⁴. (1) Section of Emergency Medicine, Yale University, 464 Congress Ave, Suite 260, New Haven, CT 06519, 203.785.3917, linda.degutis@yale.edu, (2) Public Health & Regulatory Policy Section, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada, (3) Social, Prevention & Health Policy Research Department, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada, (4) Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, 1300 S. 2nd St, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454

Moderator: Linda C. Degutis, DrPH

Rationale: U.S. and Canadian driving while impaired (DWI) policies differ in several ways: federal or state level policy; blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits for DWI; and the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA). Our project, which was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and included investigators from the US and Canada, examined the interplay of societal, political, and policy dimensions on introduction of DWI laws; examined the effect of federal incentives on introduction and passage of DWI laws; and described the ways in which data and victims' stories were used. This is the first major review of this kind with respect to impaired driving policy, and illuminates the issues related to data and policy, as well as evidence-based policy.

The proposed session includes the following:

Introduction 3 minutes

A comparative analysis of impaired driving laws in the U.S. and Canada: The impact of politics, data and advocacy 18 minutes

Public views of drinking & driving, perceived risks & interventions: A comparative analysis of the U.S. and Canada 18 minutes

A comparison of media accounts of driving while intoxicated laws in the U.S. and Canada 18 minutes

Using the evidence base to advocate for impaired driving policy: A study of strategies in the U.S. and Canada 18 minutes

Discussion (discussant: Traci Toomey) 15 minutes

Learning Objectives:

• 1. to describe a comprehensive approach to evaluating DWI policy
• 2. to describe societal and political issues related to the passage of DWI policy
• 3. to discuss how evidence is used in policy processes

Keywords: Alcohol, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.