Substance abuse is the leading contributor to lives and careers lost in the military.
Fortunately, we have many available resources onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella to help you, or someone you may know, get onto the road to recovery. These resources include the Drug and Alcohol Programs Advisor (DAPA), the Chaplains, and Fleet and Family Services.
Substance abuse happens when someone develops an ongoing habit of using detrimental legal substances, such as alcohol or nicotine, too often for the wrong reasons. People may not realize that they have developed a problem with these substances, or they may be afraid to come forward and ask for help. However, recovery is possible.
Recovery is best achieved through a combination of professional care and participation in mutual support groups, followed by management of the problem over time.
“At NAS Sigonella, the Chapel sponsors Alcoholic Anonymous to provide service members with a familiar and confidential resource in addition to the military programs,” said Lieutenant Commander Steven Hervey, a Chaplain onboard NAS Sigonella.
Hervey also said that chaplains provide spiritually based counseling services which support military members in utilizing their specific faith traditions as a source of strength to overcome addiction.
If you prefer non-faith based methods, you could also reach out to one of the DAPAs. “I gave Sailors and Marines tools and suggestions on alternative methods to drinking to deal with these issues,” said former DAPA Chief Garrick Larocque. “I would refer them to counselors at Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program who specialize in drinking.”
These treatments can help you develop the skills you need to stop or reduce an over-reliance on alcohol.
Although substance use often begins as a coping mechanism, it usually causes a bad situation to get worse instead and can amplify depression and other mental illnesses.
“Men and women in the U.S. military often face challenging experiences during their service, including combat exposure, multiple deployments, physical injury, and psychological trauma,” according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Some turn to substance use as a way to cope with these experiences,” according to the Committee on Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Substance Use Disorders in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Unfortunately, this usually backfires and causes more problems. “Substance abuse is often a contributing factor to many other destructive behaviors that negatively impact our people,” said Hervey. “It is not uncommon to see substance abuse connected with sexual assault, domestic violence, and suicide related behavior.”
Substance abuse can also cause marital issues, result in domestic violence, and require military members to go to Captain's Mast and lose rank or be separated.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 96% of people who are actively addicted to substances and not seeking help don’t believe they need treatment or to ask for help.
Often, people fear what recovery may mean, because it isn’t just a one-time event. It’s an ongoing journey that needs support and professional care. In other circumstances, people may feel ashamed of their problems and resist reaching out.
However, that doesn’t mean you should not ask for help. “Covering up problems with alcoholism or substance abuse can cause other problems,” said Larocque.
“Unfortunately, I have seen many times where a person chose not to ask for help and it made their situation worse,” stated Hervey. “I would remind them that talking or reaching out to a Chaplain or a Religious Program Specialist is always 100% confidential. There will be no negative consequences for speaking to a chaplain. We're here to help, regardless of faith background or a person's circumstances!”
At this time, the military continues to maintain a strict zero tolerance policy for the use of any illegal substances or the abuse of prescription drugs. If you are in a position where someone offers you a federally illegal substance, remember that one decision could cost you your career and future job opportunities outside of the military.
If you or someone you know needs help, reach out. For any questions regarding substance abuse, please contact your command DAPA or the
following resources:
NASSIG DAPA MAC Zeise at 624-6395;
Assistant DAPA MA1 Ford at 624-5988 or LS1 Stroud at 624-2037.
Chaplains: LCDR Hervey at 624-3975; LT Albano at 335-831-4493
Fleet and Family Service Center: 624-4696.
Naval Hospital Substance Abuse Clinic: 624-6092.
| Date Taken: | 12.04.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 12.24.2020 09:31 |
| Story ID: | 384337 |
| Location: | SIGONELLA, IT |
| Web Views: | 53 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Need Help for Substance Abuse? Don’t Wait Till It’s Too Late, by PO2 Triniti Lersch, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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