MCB Hawaii supports April community observances

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HI, UNITED STATES

03.27.2015

Story by Lance Cpl. Adam Korolev 

Marine Corps Base Hawaii

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII- April is dedicated to and recognizes several issues that permeate, not only in America, but also throughout the military community. Alcohol abuse, child abuse, sexual assault and autism are all issues that various Marine Corps Base Hawaii organizations will be focusing on starting next month.

Beginning on April 1, service members and their families can take the time to support these matters by attending counseling or events that pertain to a specific community issue.

Since 1983, April has been dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect through the observation of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, according to militaryonesource.mil. The observance serves to educate parents and the community about warning signs and helpful resources.

Military families are less likely than civilian families to be impacted by unemployment and poverty, drug abuse and limited access to healthcare due to the financial security the military provides, according to militaryonesource.mil.

However, the likelihood of intermittent single parenting is higher due to deployments, permanent changes in duty stations and separation from families. Absence related to military operations, or exposure to hazardous material is directly correlated to child neglect, and is the highest percent of a specific type of abuse in the military.

The Marine Corps birthplace may be Tun Tavern, but alcohol should be consumed responsibly. If a service member has an issue with alcohol, there are several programs available to themselves and their families. For service members on Marine Corps Base Hawaii looking for more information, visit mccshawaii.com/substanceabuse or call 257-3900.

Alcohol consumption contributes to more than 4,300 deaths among underage drinkers every year, and more than half of active duty service members report binge drinking monthly, according to alcohol consumption statistics from the Centers of Disease Control’s website.

Also stated on cdc.gov is the fact that “young adult service members exposed to combat are at a significantly greater risk of binge drinking than older service members.”

• Date Taken: 03.27.2015
• Date Posted: 03.27.2015 19:34
• Story ID: 158425
• Location: MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HI, US