Key Terms in Alcohol, Drugs, and Driving Laws for Students

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC)

Percentage of alcohol in a person's bloodstream determined by chemical tests

Inhibitions

Inner forces of personality that hold back one's impulsive behavior

Driving under the influence (DUI)

Infraction a driver with a BAC of 0.08 can be charged with

Depressant

A drug that slows down the central nervous system

Field sobriety test

On-the-spot roadside tests that help a police officer detect driver impairment from alcohol

Over-the-counter medicine (OTC)

Drugs that can be obtained legally without a doctor's order

Peer education

Where young people help other young people make responsible decisions

Hallucinogen

A mind-altering drug that changes a personality and distorts vision and perception

Stimulant

A drug that speeds up a person's central nervous system

Intoxilyzer

Machine that determines BAC by measuring a person's breath

Prescription medicine

Drugs that can only be purchased under a doctor's order

Euphoria

A person's alcohol-induced false feeling of well-being

Zero-tolerance law

A law that makes it illegal for persons under 21 to drive with any measurable amount of alcohol in the blood

Peer pressure

The influence that others of similar age and/or interests have on another person

Implied-consent law

By accepting a driver's license, a person agrees to be tested for BAC if stopped for suspicion of alcohol or drug use while driving

Nystagmus

The involuntary jerking of the eyes as a person gazes to the side

Designated driver

Decides ahead of time to abstain from drinking at social functions