Isolated Immigrants Aim of D.W.I. Drive
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FOR some in Long Island’s growing Hispanic population, living isolated in a culture very different from their own can make alcohol seem an escape. And the authorities say that has shown up on the road, with accidents and arrests for drunken driving. Although there are many programs intended to stop drunken driving, such programs often miss those who speak Spanish and have come from a different culture, leaving a growing need for special programs to help Hispanic residents deal with alcohol abuse. To increase awareness about alcohol abuse and driving , a bilingual program, Si Toma, No Maneje, or If You Drink, Don’t Drive, began last month on the Island. It is run by Project Long Island, part of the Century Council, a group trying to fight drunken driving and under-age drinking. The program, which is in Spanish, developed by the California Office of Traffic Safety in 1989 has been expanded throughout California by the Century Council, of Los Angeles, in collaboration with state agencies and the Roman Catholic Church. About 800 companies in the alcoholic-beverage industry support the council. A member of the Si Toma, No Maneje Advisory Council in Los Angeles, Estella Romero, said that in California, high numbers of arrests among Hispanic residents for driving under the influence of alcohol had “raised the red flag to the need for such a program.” Ms. Romero, who is with the advisory council in Los Angeles, said, “Where you have large concentrations of Hispanics, the percentages may vary slightly but the issue is there. There are language and cultural barriers that contribute to a serious problem. The vast majority of Spanish-speaking immigrants are here from countries where strict laws for driving under the influence don’t exist. More : query.nytimes.com |