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Overview | Definitions | Risk Factors | Why Marines May Not Seek Help
Prevention | Suggested Resources | Guidance | Key Terms
The Marine Corps objective is to eliminate alcohol abuse. Combating the debilitating threat posed by alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency on both Marines and mission readiness requires a total commitment from all levels of leadership. Leaders must be alert to characteristics of alcohol abuse and with the symptoms of the disease of alcohol dependency. All leaders must not in any way promote or condone alcohol misuse.
- Alcohol Abuse:
- The use of alcohol to an extent that it has an adverse effect on performance, conduct, discipline, or mission effectiveness and the user's health, behavior, family, community, and DON; or leads to unacceptable behavior as evidenced by one or more acts of alcohol-related misconduct.
- Alcohol Dependence or Alcoholism :
- The psychological or physiological reliance on alcohol.
A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of abusing alcohol and could lead to the development of alcoholism.
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Family conflict.
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Family history of alcohol abuse.
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Financial problems.
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Boredom.
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Lack of commitment to work.
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Poor work performance.
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Low self-esteem.
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Significant loss.
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Underage drinking.
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Unit culture that encourages drinking.
- Easy availability and supply to underage Marines.
- All Marines should set a positive example, especially NCOs.
- An atmosphere of “it's okay not to drink” must prevail.
- Ensure that all Marines understand that consumption of alcohol is not essential to the development of unit cohesion or Marine Corps pride.
- Conduct regular command training on alcohol abuse.
- Institute and promote a designated driver program.
- Have control over local command policies with regard to club operations, social gatherings, and recreational activities to ensure abuse is not indirectly promoted.
- Ensure policies are in place that supports responsible drinking in all aspects of club and recreational activities.
- Ensure giving alcoholic beverages as gifts or sold at reduced prices is not allowed.
- Ensure suitable non-alcoholic beverages are readily available at all social functions.
- Ensure food is available whenever alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, or distilled spirits) are served.
- Ensure alcoholic beverages are not sold or served to Marines who fail to meet minimum age requirements for purchase or consumption.
- Ensure ongoing programs are established to prevent drunk driving by Marines, their family members, and civilian employees.
- Promote firm and equal treatment of alcohol abusers through NJP, Court-Martial, or administrative means.
- Publish DAPA notes in the command plan of the day.
MCCS Substance Abuse Program
Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS): Enhances unit and family readiness by delivering programs such as Marine Corps Family Team Building (MCFTB), Military OneSource Information and Referral Service, Counseling Services and New Parent Support. The programs are designed specifically for Marines and families to increase their awareness of relevant readiness issues, while offering creative ideas to build a healthy family. Through proactive education, training, coordination of support services, materials and tools, MCCS promotes personal and family readiness that can be applied in everyday situations. Military OneSource is also able to coordinate counseling services for Marines and families in need of counseling support to help cope with deployment related issues, reunion concerns, parenting, childcare and other everyday issues. Marines and family members are allowed six face-to-face counseling sessions per incident with a civilian mental health practitioner for free. A Marine or family member will call a One Source consultant who will determine if there are on base resources readily available to assist the caller. If on base resources are not available, the One Source consultant will provide the caller an immediate referral to counseling assistance, and using their nationwide network of providers, will find a licensed mental health practitioner near the caller. Utilizing Military OneSource is ideal for Marines and Marine Reservists (and families) needing counseling services but who are not located near an installation. Marine and Family Services (MFS) counseling is available to those units and families in need of counseling support in the areas of combat stress, stress reduction, anger management, new parent support, and couples counseling.
Military One Source : The services of Military OneSource supplement the existing support system for Marines and their families by providing assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via toll free telephone and Internet access. In addition, Military OneSource supports geographically dispersed Marines and their families (recruiters, Inspector and Instructor staffs, and mobilized reservists) who do not have traditional services available. Resources are available on topics to include parenting and childcare issues, education services, financial information and counseling, legal, elder care, health and wellness, crisis support and relocation. Marines or family members seeking assistance can call 800-342-9647. Military OneSource Online can be visited at www.militaryonesource.com
SECNAVINST 5300.28 D Military Substance Abuse Prevention and Control
MARADMIN 520/01 Substance Abuse Prevention
MCO P1700.24B Marine Corps Personal Services Order
MCO P1900.16F Marine Corps Separation Manual (link to def below)
Commander's Quick Reference Manual for Legal Issues
Abstinence:- Refraining from alcohol intake.
Administrative Actions:- Any alcohol related misconduct or unsatisfactory performance will be subject to prompt and appropriate administrative action. Charges of intoxicated driving in violation of local legal blood alcohol content (BAC) will be treated as an alcohol related incident.
Aftercare:- Begins after medical treatment ends. It is the responsibility of the command to monitor aftercare, which should not exceed 12 months. It primarily consists of administrative monitoring, and non-clinical counseling.
Alcohol Abuse:- The use of alcohol to an extent that it has an adverse effect on performance, conduct, discipline, or mission effectiveness and the users health, behavior, family, community, and DON; or leads to unacceptable behavior as evidenced by one or more acts of alcohol-related misconduct.
Alcohol Dependence or Alcoholism:- The psychological or physiological reliance on alcohol.
Alcohol Related Incident:- Occurs when, in the commanders' judgment, the ingestion of alcohol was a contributing factor to an event that resulted in a violation of the UCMJ.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Meeting:- Alcoholics Anonymous meeting is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other, that they may solve their common problem, and help others to recover from alcoholism.
Assessment:A Marine requiring an assessment will be assigned a case manager. The case manager, through a collaborative effort with the Marine, will conduct a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment of the individual’s treatment needs. As part of the assessment a Licensed Independent Practitioner (LIP) will render a diagnostic judgement. The case manager and the Marine will use the assessment results to develop an Individualized Treatment Plan (ITP).
CO's Background Information:- Information gather to assist the counseling center in evaluating and making the appropriate treatment recommendation.
Command Referral:- Occurs when an individual is identified as having a problem with alcohol that warrant a referral to a counseling center for an assessment.
Disease:- Any alteration in the body or any of its organs or parts that interrupts or disturbs the performance of vital functions, thereby causing or threatening pain, weakness or dysfunction. A disease can exist with or without a person's awareness of it, and can be of known or unknown cause.
Enabling:- Any action or behavior that allows a problem to continue after identified or worsened.
Helping Agencies:The following agencies offer the services listed.
Initial Screening:Marines referred to the SACC will be screened by a drug and alcohol counselor to determine if early intervention or an assessment is warranted. Screenings will be conducted using the clinical package screening forms in NAVMC 2931. If the need for an assessment is ruled out, the individual will be placed in an Early Intervention Program. Generally, the screening process should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete.
Licensed Independent Practitioner (LIP):- An LIP (physician or clinical psychologist) will be appointed to support the continuum of care. The LIP will be responsible for clinically supervising counselors; authorizing any treatment changes, to include: discharge, making diagnosis, determining portal of entry for Marines entering the continuum of care, and approving Individualized Treatment Planss.
MCO P1900.16 Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual:- Currently, a FOIA (freedom of Information Act) redacted version of the Separation Manual is online. This version is incomplete, however, as it does not contain Change 1. A complete and searchable version of the Manual should be available online with Change 2 by early CY2007.
Medical Screening:- Is the clinical and administrative function for determining the need for treatment and the appropriate portal of entry into the continuum of care.
Patient Placement:- Placement will be based on the seven continuum of care assessment dimensions, not the drug and alcohol diagnosis. A Marine will be assessed using the placement criteria contained in NAVMC 2931. The assessment information will be used by the Case Manager and the Interdisciplinary Team to recommend the Marines placement to the Licensed Independent Practitioner. This will always be the least intensive portal of entry that will accomplish the treatment objectives while providing safety and security for the patient. A Marine may enter the continuum of care at any portal.
Personality Traits:- Traits are distinguishing qualities or characteristics of a person that lead to adaptive or maladaptive responses to a various different stimuli or situations.
Responsible Drinking:- Is self-imposed limitation on time, place and quantity when consuming alcohol.
Sobriety:- Discontinuance and avoidance, i.e. abstinence, from consumption of alcohol or drugs.
Substance Abuse Control Officer (SACO): Substance Abuse Control Officer. An SACO is usually a collateral duty billet; oversee all aspects of Marine Corps drug and alcohol prevention programs.
- Advise the CO on the administration of the unit drug and alcohol prevention program
- Conduct administrative screenings of individuals referred to the Substance Abuse Counseling Center (SACC) for possible alcohol and/or drug problems
- Coordinate and/or assist in alcohol and drug abuse awareness education, for example, during command orientation
- Establish and monitor a command prevention and intervention program
- Serve as the Aftercare coordinator for the command, and monitor Aftercare plans, where applicable, for members who return after completion of outpatient or inpatient alcohol treatment programs
- Act as an authorized command self-referral agent
Substance Abuse Counseling Center (SACC):Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) Substance Abuse Counseling Centers provide drug and alcohol education and counseling for active duty, reserve and retired personnel. Eligible family members over age 18 are provided services on a space available basis.
Highly skilled Marine counselors provide the following services:
- Screenings & Assessments
- Early Intervention Outpatient
- Intensive Outpatient Treatment
- Residential Treatment
- SACO Training
Treatment Plans:- A treatment plan will be developed through a collaborative effort between the Marine and the case manager. Treatment plans will contain clinical problems and agreed upon goals and objectives that will be addressed during treatment. Drug/alcohol dependency/abuse is a diagnosis and should not be confused with or listed as one of the Marine's problems on the treatment plan.
Veteran's Administration (VA):- Title 38 U.S.C. 1720 (a), subsection (d), provides authority for the Veterans Administration (VA) to furnish care or treatment and rehabilitation for alcohol abuse and dependency to any person serving in the active military.
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