The state of Mississippi has many residents who are currently struggling with alcoholism; thus the need for more quality alcohol rehab programs to be available throughout the state. Most people in Mississippi are not able to overcome a serious and potentially life threatening alcohol addiction problem without professional alcohol rehabilitation being administered. When a person form Mississippi finally reaches out for alcohol rehabilitation help, they will be taking the first step towards freedom from an alcohol addiction. There are many different types of alcohol rehab that are available in Mississippi, including inpatient, outpatient, holistic alcohol rehab, short term or long term, just to name a select few.

Sometimes an individual from Mississippi will choose an outpatient alcohol treatment facility, which will allow them to attend alcohol treatment classes while still being able to meet their obligations at home; it is important to note that not every person with a serious alcohol addiction can thrive with this low level of short term treatment. Another alcohol rehab option is residential alcohol rehab, which allows the person from Mississippi to live full time at the alcohol rehabilitation facility where they can focus entirely on their treatment program.

The first step in a Mississippi alcohol rehab treatment center is alcohol detoxification; Alcohol detoxification is a process by which medical professionals can manage and minimize the physical withdrawal symptoms that can occur when someone stops drinking. It is important that an individual from Mississippi that has completed detox goes directly into a comprehensive alcohol rehab center that includes some form of counseling, relapse prevention classes and follow up care. The primary goal of any quality alcohol rehab should be to enable the individual from Mississippi to successfully achieve a state of lasting abstinence.

Mississippi alcohol related information and statistics are provided by the US Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Conference of State Legislatures, 2004. Mississippi experienced a dramatic drop in drunk driving deaths in the first six years since records were kept, going from a high of 423 alcohol related fatalities in 1982, to a low of 198 in 1988. In the subsequent years however, much of those gains were reversed. While these are actual numbers of deaths, the alcohol related fatality rate based on vehicle miles traveled (VMT)(see explanation below) has shown an overall improvement. In 2008, out of all traffic fatalities, 34% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

The table below shows the total number of traffic fatalities (Tot) for the Mississippi, alcohol related fatalities (Alc-Rel) and fatalities in crashes where the highest BAC in the crash was 0.08 or above (0.08+). All 50 states in the US now apply two statutory offenses to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The first (and original) offense is known either as driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated/impaired (DWI), or operating while intoxicated/impaired (OWI). This is based upon a Mississippi police officer's observations (driving behavior, slurred speech, the results of a roadside sobriety test, etc.)

The second offense is called "illegal per se", which is driving with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. Since 2002 it has been illegal in all 50 states to drive with a BAC that is 0.08% or higher. It is important to note that the Mississippi drunk driving statistics, as shown below, include data from individuals in Mississippi who were in an alcohol-related crash, but not driving a motor vehicle at the time. The U.S. Department of Transportation defines alcohol-related deaths as "fatalities that occur in crashes where at least one driver or non-occupant (pedestrian or bicyclist) involved in the crash has a positive Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) value." The fatality rates shown below refer to the number of people killed in all traffic accidents and, separately, in alcohol related traffic accidents, per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2003-2004, Office of Applied Studies 2003-2004 and the MADD Official Website statistics 2004

�'When is a driver considered to be legally drunk in Mississippi?

• Non-commercial drivers age 21+ in Mississippi are considered legally drunk when their blood alcohol level is .08 or more.
• Drivers of commercial vehicles in Mississippi are legally drunk when their blood alcohol concentration is .04 percent or greater. In Mississippi, school bus drivers are commercial drivers.
• Drivers under 21 in Mississippi are legally drunk when their blood alcohol level is .02 or greater.

Penalties for Drunk Driving in Mississippi

• First-time offenders in Mississippi are subject to a fine of $250 to $1,000, imprisonment for up to 48 hours, or both. These offenders are also required to attend and complete a Mississippi alcohol safety education program. The driver's license suspension period is 90 days to one year.
• A person in Mississippi who commits a second offense within five years of the first offense faces five days to one year in prison. A second-time offender is also subject to pay a fine of $600 to $1,500 and perform community service work for 10 days to one year. The driver's license suspension period is two years. In addition, the sentencing judge is required to order the impoundment of all vehicles registered to the convicted offender for the entire driver's license suspension period. If, however, other drivers in the household are dependent on the vehicle, the court may order the installation of an ignition interlock system in lieu of impoundment. After the offender's driver's license is reinstated, the court may order the offender to use an ignition interlock system for six months or more. Any person convicted of a second DUI must also receive an in-depth diagnostic assessment. If the assessment reveals the offender is in need of treatment and if the offender successfully completes treatment, the offender will be eligible for reinstatement of his or her driver's license after one year.
• A person in Mississippi who commits a third or subsequent DUI within five years faces a term of imprisonment of one to five years. These offenders are also subject to pay a fine of $2,000 to $5,000. The offender's vehicle will be seized and may be subject to forfeiture. The driver's license suspension period is five years. Any person convicted of a third or subsequent DUI may also receive an in-depth diagnostic assessment. If the assessment reveals the offender is in need of treatment and if the offender successfully completes treatment, the offender will be eligible for reinstatement of his or her driver's license after three years.

Additional Penalties in Mississippi for a DUI that Causes Death or Certain Injuries to Another

If a person in Mississippi commits a DUI that causes the death of another or mutilates, disfigures, permanently disables, or destroys the tongue, eye, lip, nose, or any other limb, organ, or member of another, the offender will be guilty of a separate felony for each death or injury and will be imprisoned for five to 25 years for each such death or injury.

Commercial Drivers

In addition to other penalties associated with Mississippi's DUI laws, a commercial driver convicted of DUI for the first time while driving a commercial vehicle be suspended from driving a commercial vehicle for one year. If, however, the driver was transporting hazardous materials at the time of the violation, the suspension period is three years. A commercial driver in Mississippi who commits a second DUI while operating a commercial vehicle will be suspended from driving a commercial vehicle for life, which may or may not be reduced to a period of 10 years.

Drivers Under 21

The section of Mississippi's DUI laws that applies to minors is called "Zero Tolerance for Minors." The provisions of this law apply only when a person under 21 in Mississippi drives with a BAC of .02 or more, but lower than .08. If the underage offender's BAC measures .08 or greater, he or she will be subject to the penalties applied to adults.

• Upon conviction of a person under 21 for a first offense under the Zero Tolerance law, the offender's driver's license will be suspended for 90 days. The offender will also be fined $250 and be required to attend and complete a Mississippi alcohol safety education program. The judge may also require attendance at a victim impact panel.
• Upon a second conviction within a five-year period, the offender's driver's license will be suspended for one year. The offender in Mississippi will also be subject to pay a fine of up to $500. A second-time underage offender may receive an in-depth diagnostic assessment. If the assessment reveals the offender is in need of treatment and if the offender successfully completes treatment, the offender will be eligible for reinstatement of his or her driver's license after six months.
• For a third or subsequent conviction within a five-year period, the offender's driver's license will be suspended until he or she reaches 21 or for two years, whichever time period is longer. The Mississippi offender will also be fined up to $1,000 and be required to complete treatment in an alcohol program.

What is Mississippi's "Immunity from Liability of Persons Who Lawfully Furnished or Sold Intoxicating Beverages to One Causing Damage" Statute?

The Mississippi legislature found that the drinking of alcohol, rather than its sale and service, is the proximate cause of any injury. Under this law, licensed Mississippi drinking establishments that sell and serve alcohol to persons who may lawfully purchase alcohol are not liable to the drinker or any other person for injuries caused by intoxication. This law also states that social hosts who serve or furnish alcohol to persons who may lawfully consume alcohol are not liable for injuries suffered as a result of intoxication. These limits of liability, however, do not apply to any person in Mississippi who causes or contributes to the consumption of alcohol when it can be shown that the person making the purchase of alcohol was at the time of sale visibly intoxicated. Of course, because it is illegal to sell or furnish alcohol to a minor, this statute does not bar liability for injuries caused by the sale or service of alcohol to a minor.

Criminal Penalties in Mississippi for Selling or Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor

In Mississippi, it is a crime to sell or furnish alcohol to a minor. A person in Mississippi who violates this law will be punished by a fine of $500 to $1,000 for a first offense. A person in Mississippi who commits a second or subsequent offense is subject to a fine of $1,000 to $2,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.

Criminal Penalties in Mississippi for Selling of Furnishing Alcohol to a Visibly Intoxicated Person

In Mississippi, it is a crime to sell or furnish alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person. A person in Mississippi who violates this law is subject to a fine of up to $500, imprisonment in a county jail for up to six months, or both.