A Young Gentleman's Abusive Drinking Results In A DWI And Time Behind Bars

Richard had a hard time keeping a job. To be sure, due to his lassitude and lack of motivation, he was out of work far more frequently than he was in a state of employment. And when he did get employment, he had an awfully difficult time getting to work in a timely manner, he characteristically received less than great performance assessments, and he called off sick so many times that he regularly got fired two or three weeks after he started working.

It almost goes without saying that one of the outcomes of Richard's less than passing work record was the fact that he was virtually penniless almost everyday. Regardless of Richard's less than acceptable work record and financial lack of attention, nevertheless, in some way he made it a point to drink in an irresponsible and hazardous manner from day-to-day.

So it came as no big shock when Richard got a fourth DWI. When he went before the court, the magistrate explained to Richard that his alcohol-related actions was unacceptable and, as a result, he was going to sentence Richard to serve eight months in the city jail.

During his time in the city jail, Richard was expected to learn more about alcoholism facts such as alcohol related consequence and alcohol deaths, about the negative effects of irresponsible drinking, and he was expected to get alcohol treatment. The magistrate underlined the fact that unless Richard receives quality alcohol rehab and learns how to live a life of sobriety, he will most likely be spending more than a short amount of time in the county jail.

Richard articulated that he grasped what the judge was declaring but he still proclaimed that placement in the city jail was not the proper decision. The judge thought otherwise and proclaimed that it was his professional job to keep alcohol dependent persons off the streets who drink and drive and who get one or more DUIs. To substantiate this perspective, the judge quoted some long-standing, highly researched alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics and facts that underlined some of the adverse outcomes that are related to irresponsible drinking such as alcohol related deaths.

Even though Richard grasped the fact that he drank in an excessive and hazardous manner, he never thought that he was an alcohol addicted person. So it was quite a shock when Richard started to have chronic alcoholism symptoms and alcohol withdrawals about six-and-a-half hours after getting locked up in the local jail.

To treat his alcohol withdrawals in a safe and secure manner, Richard was transferred to a drug and alcohol treatment hospital for alcohol detox and then brought back to the municipal jail. While in jail Richard undertook alcohol therapy but since he received this therapy as something that was mandated for him, he neglected to take ownership of his careless drinking.

When his time in the city jail was finished, the magistrate without indecision announced to Richard that he would be under strict observation and would be required to take periodic urine alcohol tests. After hearing how Richard was unsuccessful in taking ownership of his drinking situation and how he reluctantly followed the rehab modus operandi while behind bars, the judge knew that it was essentially a matter of time before he would be seeing Richard once again in court about his irresponsible and excessive drinking behavior.

As the magistrate thought about Richard's situation, he couldn't help but think about how some individuals never "get it" and learn how to live in an accountable manner.

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