True blue: command takes hard-hitting new approach to eliminating substance abuse

Citizen Airman, August, 2004 by Bo Joyner

When you have a critical mission to perform, you want the people working with you to be committed, dedicated and loyal. In other words, you want them to be "true blue." And when the job is on the line, you certainly don't want people around you who abuse drugs or alcohol. That's the idea behind Air Force Reserve Command's new True Blue drug demand reduction program.

"You can't be 'true blue' and have a substance abuse problem at the same time. Sooner or later, that drug or alcohol problem is going to interfere with the way you do your job," said Don Jenrette, AFRC's substance abuse education and prevention coordinator. "Our goal is to have a workplace completely free of substance abuse."

Together with Bobbie Sellers, the command's drug demand reduction specialist, Mr. Jenrette is hoping the True Blue program the two developed will help them meet that goal.

True Blue doesn't target just people who abuse drugs and alcohol. Rather, it attempts to show all members of the Air Force Reserve team how they can improve their quality of life in several areas by steering clear of drugs and not abusing alcohol. It also emphasizes how to identify friends or co-workers who might be struggling with an alcohol or drug abuse problem and how to get them the help they need.

"For years, we told people not to abuse alcohol and drugs, gave them a trinket and sent them on their way," Mr. Jenrette said. "With True Blue, we're taking a totally different approach."

He describes True Blue as a 21st-century alcohol and drug abuse prevention and lifestyle improvement awareness and education initiative. The program features hard-hitting posters, pamphlets, CD-ROMs and video spots centered around four main themes: family, health, career and leadership/work force.

The program's first videos and posters highlight:

* the dangers of prescription drug abuse and how it can lead to addiction, misdiagnosis of serious illnesses, life-threatening circumstances and even death;

* having good overall health so you can make it to and enjoy your retirement years; and

* how substance abuse can bring a quick end to your Air Force career.

There is also a True Blue Web site (https://wwwmil.afrc.af.mil/trueblue) designed to reinforce the campaign's key messages and provide links to a number of other helpful Web sites.

"Since 1988, the primary emphasis of AFRC's drug demand reduction program has been detection--random military and civilian drug testing," Mr. Jenrette said. "Relatively little else has been done to effectively deter AFRC members from abusing substances. With True Blue, we're hoping to influence people before they have a serious problem."

The command will continue randomly testing 25 percent of its assigned military end strength every year. In 2003, 68 people were discharged after testing positive for an illegal substance.

Mr. Jenrette and Ms. Sellers took all of their True Blue materials to the 440th Airlift Wing, Gen. Mitchell International Airport Air Reserve Station, Wisc., during the wing's May unit training assembly to kick off the campaign's test run. More than 300 Reservists reviewed and evaluated the True Blue posters, pamphlets, brochures, videos and Web site.

The test run is scheduled to last through the November UTA. Until then, members of the 440th AW will continue reviewing and evaluating new campaign materials. Mr. Jenrette and Ms. Sellers are refining the program based on this input and plan on introducing True Blue to the rest of AFRC in 2005.

"From the responses we've received, I think we are on the right track," Mr. Jenrette said. "Most of the Reservists said our materials had a positive impact and definitely made them think about their personal attitudes and beliefs about substance abuse."

In addition to evaluating posters, pamphlets and videos, the 440th Reservists had the opportunity to try out fatal vision goggles--special glasses that simulate the visual effects of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. "We've really tried to make the True

Blue program hard-hitting and straightforward," Mr. Jenrette said. "We want to grab people's attention any way we can and change the way they look at alcohol and drug abuse.

"When you are clean and sober, every aspect of your life, both at home and on the job, improves. And only when you are clean and sober can you be the kind of true blue Reservist the Air Force needs."