Alcohol tearing you apart? Put the pieces back together

  • Published
  • 354th Fighter Wing Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Office
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  If alcohol is tearing you apart, there is a new way to start putting the pieces back together -- a free, anonymous online alcohol self-assessment available at www.MilitaryMentalHealth.org. 

Sometimes people under stress turn to alcohol to feel better. One drink leads to four and a fun Friday night leads to a hangover Saturday morning. Guilt sets in but you can't stop. Maybe you hide your drinking or you just don't know how much is too much. 

For most adults, moderate alcohol use causes few, if any, problems. But for some, any alcohol use may lead to significant health problems or affect the ability to perform optimally at work. Trying to figure out if there is a problem isn't easy, but the free online screening is a good place to start.

Alcohol Facts:
· Young men, aged 18-25, consistently have been found to have the highest prevalence of heavy alcohol use within the military.
· The rate for heavy alcohol use among young military males is also approximately twice the rate of their civilian counterparts.
· Women overall drink less than men but are more likely to experience adverse consequences, including damage to the heart muscle, liver, and brain, trauma resulting from auto crashes, interpersonal violence, and death.
· Alcohol can damage a fetus at any stage of pregnancy. Damage can occur in the earliest weeks of pregnancy, even before a woman knows that she is pregnant. Therefore, no amount of alcohol consumption can be considered safe during pregnancy. · Moderate alcohol use is defined as up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and older people. (One drink equals one 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.)

Alcohol abuse is one of three key health issues identified by the Department of Defense, along with weight management and tobacco cessation. The goal of the screening is to educate military personnel and their families about the potential risks associated with drinking. Through education, awareness and understanding, individuals can make informed decisions about their drinking behaviors. 

The DoD points out that the self-assessment program is designed to help family members of military service personnel. 

The Mental Health Self-Assessment Program is a voluntary, anonymous mental health and alcohol self-assessment and referral program offered to military families and service members affected by deployment. It is offered online 24/7, as well as through local in-person events. This program is offered without charge through the DoD Office of Health Affairs. 

For more information call Eielson's Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment  program (ADAPT) at 377-3071.