PHILIPPINE SEA – Addiction is not always obvious. Many people struggling still show up to work, perform well, and appear fine on the surface. Although habits can be broken with conscious effort and environmental adjustments, addictions alter brain chemistry, often requiring professional support and long-term behavioral strategies.
“Addiction is a chronic medical disease that physically rewires brain structure over time making it much more than a simple matter of willpower or choosing to stop,” said Chief Hospital Corpsman Geo Javier, the command Drug and Alcohol Program Advisor aboard George Washington.
Lt. Frederick Joshua, a licensed clinical social worker aboard George Washington describes how habits turn into addictions when a repeated behavior changes from a choice into a physical and psychological compulsion.
“It’s when a person continues a behavior despite negative consequences and begins feeling dependent on it to cope, escape, or feel normal,” said Joshua. “Stress, isolation, boredom, and limited privacy underway can make unhealthy habits harder to manage for some people.”
According to the National Institute of Health, this shift is primarily driven by how certain habitual behaviors affect the brain’s reward system, leading to a loss of control, increase in tolerance, and continued use despite negative consequences. Many people develop addictions as a way to self-medicate underlying issues like chronic stress, trauma, grief, or mental health conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression).
In the short term, the addiction provides immediate relief from emotional or physical pain, making it their default – albeit destructive – coping strategy, according to a study by American Addiction Centers.
“I would hope Sailors seek my help when the behavior starts affecting mood, relationships, work performance, sleep, finances, or overall well-being,” Joshua said. “My focus is understanding the person, not just the behavior, and helping them make practical changes that are realistic and sustainable. That means learning healthier ways to manage stress, emotions, and routines. Awareness, accountability, support, and consistency are usually important parts of the process.”
Joshua stives to help Sailors break negative cycles by understanding their triggers and learning healthier behaviors. His ultimate objective is to equip them with personal insight and a concrete action plan for the future.
The National Institute of Health has found that while illicit drug use is historically low compared to civilian populations, the Navy faces high rates of binge drinking, often as an unhealthy outlet for stress relief during port visits or off-duty hours. Command and self-referral programs, like DAPA, help Sailors by providing confidential, non-disciplinary avenues to seek help for substance misuse before their career, health, or safety is compromised.
“It always starts within you,” Javier said. “You need to ask for the help. We all know that is probably the hardest part of the puzzle,” Javier said. “That’s why programs like these exist. The Navy recognizes that the very best weapon our country has to offer is a lethal, well-rounded Sailor, that is healthy in mind, body, and spirit.”
Program like DAPA and the social workers embedded directly impact crew mental health by mitigating the severe isolation, high-stress operational tempo, and extended family separations. They provide immediate crisis intervention, confidential counselling, while reducing the stigma around seeking help.