The legal consequences that come through DUIs and DWIs can be of great severity, but even more so with parents. As a result of such, they might find themselves 1. losing custody of their children, and 2. facing jail time—among a number of other possibilities. And even if it’s the individual’s first offense, it can still cause him/her a great deal of problems, by not only affecting him/her in particular, but also the lives of those around him/her.

The first factor to take into consideration is one losing custody of his/her children because if that parent is under the influence—with his/her son or daughter in the car—then he/she can be seen as a high risk. For, it is not safe for the child to be in the car—while the parents perception is in disarray, and/or askew. This, in turn, can put him/her in danger, and will be seen as such by the court.

Not only that, but the parent might find a social worker getting involved with the case, as a way to check and ensure that the child is safe, and not in harm’s way. A majority of issues can arise through such—especially if this is a first offense on the parent’s part—because it can cause an unnecessary amount of stress, as he/she is monitored, along with his/her child.

The second factor is jail time which varies depending on the classification of the DUI—and/or DWI. For example, a first offense “is classified as a misdemeanor, and punishable by up to six months in jail”. In turn, depending on the amount of time that one has to serve, it can be difficult as a parent—especially if he/she is the primary caretaker. Not only that, but if the individual’s blood alcohol content is at a level which exceeds the legal limit—especially to a great degree—this can also cause consequences of a greater severity.

In conclusion, legal consequences don’t just affect the individual struggling with substance abuse, but his/her family as well. That’s why it is important that one gets the help he/she needs sooner rather than later—so that he/she isn’t at risk of losing his/her children, jail time, and other such things. It is then that he/she can ensure himself/herself of a healthy and safe well being—along with that of his/her kids.