COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County DWI Planning Council is seeking the public’s input related to DWI in the community.
Residents may have seen banners, posters and coasters from the DWI Planning Council as it steps up to take a more active role in the community. Given that, the DWI Planning Council wants to hear from residents about it should spend State of New Mexico grant funds in Los Alamos.
Would residents participate of the DWI Planning Council offered a designated driver type of incentive (wear a bracelet, get free non-alcoholic drinks at a local bar that evening)? What about a taxi service for those who have had too much to drink? Should people pay a small fee for that or should it be free? The DWI Planning Council will use the community’s input to the survey as part of its first Strategic Planning Retreat coming up later this year. Help guide the DWI Planning Council in the best way to spend its funding.
Background
For the past two decades, the state of New Mexico’s total alcohol-related death rate has consistently been nearly twice the national rate.
The alcohol-related death rate in New Mexico increased from 1990 through 2012; by contrast, the U.S. alcohol-related death rate decreased during this time period. After a slight decline in New Mexico’s rate for 2013, the rate reached an all-time high in 2014. Although Los Alamos is a small County and only accounts for a very small portion of these statistics, we remain dedicated to providing continued awareness and education on the dangers and costs of DWI.
In order to use state DWI Grant funds, the Los Alamos County Council established the Los Alamos DWI Planning Council in 2004 to serve in an advisory capacity. The DWI Planning Council makes recommendations to the Los Alamos County Council on the County DWI Plan and on spending DWI grant funds through components including prevention, treatment, compliance monitoring/tracking, coordination/planning, screening, enforcement and alternative sentencing.
The Los Alamos DWI Planning Council wants your input on how these funds are spent. Your honest feedback is greatly appreciated.
If you are interested in serving on the DWI Planning Council or would like more information, contact DWI Program Coordinator Kirsten Bell at 505.662.8241 or kirsten.bell@lacnm.us.
Check out additional information and resources on the New Mexico DWI Coordinators Affiliate website: nmdwi.org.
