Answer the following questions in paragraph format (at least 2-3 full paragraphs):
Think about the Matt Maher Story and reflect on choices that you have made that may have had consequences. Would you think twice about the choices you made? Is Matt much different than any of us? What can you do to prevent yourself from being "THAT GUY"?
Many things could occur while under the influence. List 3 examples of things that we have learned or that you have known to happen while under the influence. You may use your own knowledge or search the web. Please list your examples with a brief description.
After watching this video and thinking about the choices that I made that had consequences, I would not have thought twice of my actions. These actions are “in the moment” decisions that could not have been changed. Matt Maher’s story is the same exact thing. He drank alcohol, got drunk, and decided to drive under the influence, resulting in killing others. Matt is not any different than any of us because it could have been anyone. People still drive under the influence and do not think of their decisions. There’s not much that I could do to prevent myself from being “that guy” because I do not drink alcohol. If I did drink alcohol, I would not drive myself to a bar or a friends house to drink. The first step would be to Uber or Lyft there. Just don’t drive if you plan on drinking. Three examples of things that may happen under the influence include:
Damaged liver: Excessive drinking increases the risk for chronic liver inflammation and disease. If an individual continues to drink, the liver has a harder time removing toxic substances from the body.
Impaired vision: Heavy drinking causes problem with vision because alcohol decreases vitamin absorption. Vitamin B-1 is used to have healthy eye muscles and when alcohol is consumed, these individuals may have a low vitamin B-1 deficiency.
Physical violence: Some individuals that drink may be abusive towards their family and/or intimate partner. Alcohol tends to affect the mind and has direct effects on physical and cognitive performances.
REFLECTION: In this discussion post, we learned about a man named Matt Maher that made a bad decision to drive under the influence of alcohol. He drove intoxicated and killed a father for six on Saturday, Match 7th, 2009. This discussion post really opened up the reality of driving under the influence and the consequences that came with it. Matt Maher served a total of 55 months, when he was sentenced to 5 years and 5 months in prison. Intoxicated people or people under the influence are not fully aware of how their actions could affect others. Their decisions could kill someone and in this case, Matt Maher did. Peer pressure is also a reason why people drive under the influence of alcohol. It's scary to think that some people are peer pressured into drinking and those pressuring others to drink do not think of the consequences that occur after. After this discussion post, I hope that everyone who has learned about Matt Maher’s story does not drive under the influence because of the consequences that could occur. Matt Maher could have killed himself in that crash, but it only resulted in him killing the other driver, and that guilt will be stuck with him forever.