{"id":269874,"date":"2020-09-25T08:00:42","date_gmt":"2020-09-25T12:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=269874"},"modified":"2020-09-25T08:00:42","modified_gmt":"2020-09-25T12:00:42","slug":"the-designated-driver-role-gets-a-modern-update-covering-dangers-from-covid-19-to-social-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2020\/09\/25\/the-designated-driver-role-gets-a-modern-update-covering-dangers-from-covid-19-to-social-media\/","title":{"rendered":"The designated driver role gets a modern update, covering dangers from COVID-19 to social media"},"content":{"rendered":"
The concept of Buddy Circles expands the designated driver role to include broader substance use and other risks.
\n(Pexels\/Martin Lopez)<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The designated driver (DD) is a successful public health strategy dating back to the late 1980s. To better reflect the realities of today\u2019s society, now is a good time to evolve the initiative to help mitigate the harms tied to broader substance use and beyond drinking and driving.<\/p>\n

The promotion of \u201cbuddy circles,\u201d as an expanded harm reduction strategy, is one possible way to achieve these ends. Similar to the DD, the aim of the proposed buddy circle initiative is to challenge norms and promote behaviour change in order to reduce harm.<\/p>\n

The buddy circle concept, however, expands on that of the designated driver, taking into account other substances and risks \u2014 including COVID-19 and social media \u2014 in order to build a more comprehensive harm mitigation strategy for the 21st century.<\/p>\n

The designated driver and beyond<\/h2>\n

In North America the concept of designated driving began in 1988 as part of Harvard University\u2019s School of Public Health\u2019s Alcohol Project<\/a>. The project involved a partnership with major television networks and Hollywood studios. Over the past 30 years this program has achieved its goals<\/a>, integrating the DD into our language and culture.<\/p>\n

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Over the past 30+ years, the concept of the designated driver has become integrated into our language and culture.<\/span>
\n(Pixabay)<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to Jay Winsten<\/a>, founding director of the Center for Health Communication at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, there were two crucial elements involved in the successful promotion of the DD to the public. The first was that it was framed as a positive message, one that \u201clent social legitimacy to the option of refraining from drinking and created social pressure to conform.\u201d The second was that the DD \u201cneeded to be viewed as an integral part of the evening\u2019s fun and not as a bystander.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since its inception, the DD has been associated with alcohol consumption. That original focus still dominates our popular understanding of the program (for example see the online dictionary definition<\/a> of DD).<\/p>\n

Today, as an increasing number of countries explore relaxing their drug polices in response to and\/or as a result of greater awareness of drug using behaviours and the harms associated with prohibitionist policies<\/a> and practices, including Canada where recreational cannabis was legalized<\/a> in 2018 and there is increasing pressure to decriminalize possession of all drugs<\/a> \u2014 similar to Portugal<\/a>, a broader approach to substance use behaviour and its associated risks is needed.<\/p>\n

Program expansion<\/h2>\n

There are a variety of potential risks or harms that a buddy circle initiative may address. Four are highlighted here:<\/p>\n