91. MYSTERY CAR DENTS
What Research Shows
If your loved one’s car is showing unexplained scars, or if their driving record is piling up, pay close attention. A person's vehicle often provides the most honest, objective evidence of a spiraling addiction. Being in a collision while driving drunk will eventually result in some people's life. Using marijuana or other off-the-shelf designer drug that seems legal (Kratom, 7-OH) can also result in impaired driving.
There is a common belief that a first DUI is just a "one-off mistake." But the truth is, most people drive impaired dozens of times before they ever get caught. Even a single DUI is a massive warning sign. If they get a second or third, all doubt vanishes. Continuing to drink or use and drive—even after the shame of arrest, losing a license, or facing jail—is the literal definition of dependency. The chemical compulsion has completely overridden their survival instinct.
What You See
Beyond the legal record, the car itself tells the story. Look out for "mystery dents"—a smashed taillight, a scraped side panel, or a missing mirror. When you ask, you will likely hear vague excuses: "Someone hit me in a parking lot," or "I didn't even notice that." In reality, these marks are the physical journal of blackouts and impaired driving. They are the scars of hitting curbs, guardrails, or poles while their coordination was compromised. The car is no longer just transport; it has become a mobile hiding spot and a dangerous weapon. If your loved one's vehicle is physically unraveling or their record is stained, they are risking their life and the lives of others. Don't wait for a fatal crash to take this warning seriously.
What You Can Do
Refusing to allow your loved one who is embroiled in such issues to have access to the family vehicle is an important first step to tying drinking/smoking to the DUI. As odd as it may sound, some people need to be told that. If they have their own car, then the installation of inhaler devices that are breathalyzers in order to start the car is good and tampering with these is just another warning sign that there is a problem they have. Mandatory counseling usually follows a conviction for a DUI, but demanding that your loved one receiving counseling for chronic damage to a car is not unreasonable.
This sign is for awareness and education only. It is useful as a screening tool, not a diagnostic tool. It is not a substitute for professional assessment or treatment. If you are concerned about someone you love, speaking with a qualified addiction counselor or psychologist is always the right next step.