Navy steps up fight against alcohol, drug abuse

Continuing its onslaught against alcohol and drug abuse in the military, Drug and Alcohol Program Management Activity (DAPMA) San Diego started a Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) pilot program this spring.

The two-week, 80-hour program is aimed at training military members and DOD civilians on the ins-and-outs of assessing and implementing successful drug and alcohol prevention programs within their commands.

"We feel the Navy has taken the lead in substance abuse prevention with this course," said LT Jason Holdeman, DAPMA's department head of training operations.

Following the DOD Survey of Health Related Behaviors Among Military Personnel results, which suggests that military members between the ages of 18 and 25 are more likely to binge drink than their civilian counterparts, DAPMA recently graduated its first 20 prevention specialists. The students spanned three services, including Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force, as well as DOD civilians.

CDR Maureen Alexander, DAPMA San Diego's officer-in-charge, said the students learned that a military alcohol and drug program is effective only if it's reinforced in the environment around the member.

"Prevention is a very dynamic thing," said Alexander. "You have to have many different things working for it to be effective."

Many military members and their families live in the surrounding civilian communities and are influenced by many of the factors in that community. The Navy realized this and incorporated civilian alcohol and drug experts from the San Diego area to help facilitate the class, ensuring that military members understand how to deal with all aspects of alcohol and drug abuse prevention, and not just military policies.

Many of the students have been involved with treatment programs or have been command counselors. For them, the gained knowledge will help them take a proactive approach instead of a reactive one.

"I think that if we stop (alcohol and drug abuse) before it happens, then we wouldn't lose a lot of manpower," said Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) (AW/SW) Milton Young, who is a substance abuse counselor in Yokosuka, Japan.

Holdeman said DAPMA has submitted a radical plan for CPS to replace the programs it currently teaches, such as the Drug and Alcohol Program Advisor and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Leaders courses, by FY07.

"If approved, CPS will be the course, and the prevention specialists will then be able to go out and teach the courses DAPMA previously taught," said Holdeman, who is also a clinical psychologist.

The course is a big step for Sailors to obtain certification as Certified Prevention Specialists, a certification that can be used when transferring to the civilian sector. DAPMA is also pushing for military students to receive college credits for the course.

While the regularity of the course has not been determined, Alexander said that DAPMA San Diego will hold the course at least one more time this fiscal year.

Story by JO2 David Van Scoy, who is assigned to the public affairs office Navy Region Southwest.

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