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

Abstract #117166

Linda C. Degutis, DrPH¹, Norman A. Giesbrecht, PhD², Helen Sayward, MA¹, and Gina Stoduto, MA³. (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

Background: 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). Advocacy groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving are influential in policy development and implementation, and use a number of strategies to move their issues to the forefront of the policy arena. Purpose: To examine how data are used by advocacy groups and others, either alone or in combination with victim's stories, to influence the passage of DWI legislation. Methods: Key informant interviews, using a structured questionnaire, were used. Informants included representatives and leaders of advocacy groups, law enforcement, the alcohol beverage industry, and others who have an interest in DWI policy. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then coded using NVivo software, allowing for identification of common themes. Results: In both the U.S. and Canada, advocates on both sides of the issue used data to support their arguments for or against the laws that were proposed. Data sources included national state/provincial and local fatality data, crash data, and publicly available databases. Similar data sources were used in both countries, and victims' stories were often combined with data for a more complete picture of the issue. Victims' stories put a face on the issues, whereas data served to illustrate the impact on the community in general. Conclusion: Data are often used in combination with anecdotes and victims' stories in advocating for DWI policy in the US and Canada.

Learning Objectives:

• describe issues related to data and DWI legislation
• discuss ways in which data are used to advocate for DWI policy

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.