Naval District Washington Observes Alcohol Awareness Month, Provides Free Screenings

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Having an alcoholic beverage is not uncommon among adults, civilian and military alike. But when drinking starts to affect an individual's behavior, health and lifestyle then there's a problem.

The Navy's observation of Alcohol Awareness Month includes a campaign called "Keep What You've Earned," designed to encourage responsible drinking among Sailors by focusing on the accomplishments in their Navy careers. Naval District Washington (NDW) is participating in this campaign to keep its personnel on the right track when it comes to responsible alcohol use.

"It is important that we observe alcohol awareness month as a reminder to everyone of the risks involved with drinking," saidChief Electrician's Mate Noli Manaloto, NDW alcohol and drug control officer. "Alcohol abuse not only affects your health but also your family, shipmates, and most importantly your naval career. In conjunction with Alcohol Awareness Month, the 'Keep What You've Earned' campaign is reminding Sailors that one bad decision while drinking alcohol could mean putting your hard-earned accomplishments to waste."

The problem of alcohol abuse is nationwide, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting that binge drinking - having five or more alcoholic beverages in a short amount of time - is a habit of 38 million Americans. Furthermore, the percentage of the population that binge drinks in the Washington, D.C., area is one of the highest in the nation, with between 18.7 and 25.6 percent of the population being identified as binge drinkers in a 2010 CDC survey.

Service members face unique situations that many health professionals warn could lead to alcohol abuse later. Deployments, separation from loved ones, and hazardous duty are stressors that most personnel face. But health professionals warn against treating such stress with alcohol.

"Using alcohol to manage a life problem, what professionals call 'self-medicating,' is never a good idea; not only does a drinking problem emerge, the original problem goes unfixed," said Robert Ciulla, Ph.D., mobile health director for the Department of Defense (DOD) National Center for Telehealth and Technology. "A successful career in the military means knowing when to draw the line with alcohol, and when to get help when the drinking is out of control."

Military Pathways, a joint DOD and Screening for Mental Health organization, is geared toward helping military personnel should they need it. They provide anonymous mental health and alcohol self-assessments for family members and service personnel in all branches including the National Guard and Reserve. The program is available online at www.militarymentalhealth.org and at special events held at installations worldwide.

"The anonymous self-assessment gives individuals the opportunity to check and see if their drinking is a problem and how to get help or cut back," said Ciulla.

Manaloto added that every command has resources available to Sailors or concerned personnel regarding alcohol abuse.

"If you or someone you know has a drinking problem, resources are available such as the qualified self-referral agents, command Drug and Alcohol Program Advisors [DAPA], the Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program [SARP], Fleet and Family Services Center [FFSC], your chaplain or your upper chain of command," said Manaloto. "Self-referral is the preferred method of addressing potential alcohol abuse at an early stage. There is help out there, and those who need it can seek it before it's too late."

The Washington Navy Yard will be hosting a regional safety stand down May 15 in preparation of the "100 critical days of Summer," the period between Memorial day and Labor Day. Included will be an alcohol awareness brief in line with the "Keep What You've Earned" campaign.

For more news from Naval District Washington, visit www.navy.mil/local/ndw/.