Hanscom, military observe Alcohol Awareness Month

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  • By Military Pathways
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  With April being National Alcohol Awareness Month, and April 11 National Alcohol Screening Day, the Military Pathways program, is encouraging servicemembers, veterans and their families to take advantage of the free, anonymous alcohol-use screenings at www.DrinkingIQ.org.

Military Pathways is run by the nonprofit Screening for Mental Health and funded by the Department of Defense with support from the National Center for Telehealth and Technology. The program reports that more than 30,000 screenings for alcohol-use disorders have been completed since it started the program in 2006.

The screenings ask individuals to answer a simple set of questions about their drinking habits. After completing a screening, servicemembers receive feedback as to whether their symptoms are consistent with alcohol misuse as well as a list of resources on how and where to get further evaluation and help.

Visitors to the site can also access a host of articles, videos and other information that gives them, among other things, tips on how to cut down on alcohol use. Several free, downloadable mobile applications for mental health are also available.

"Using alcohol to manage a life problem, what professionals call 'self-medicating,' is never a good idea," said Dr. Robert Ciulla, Mobile Health director for the Defense Department's National Center for Telehealth and Technology. "Not only does a drinking problem emerge, the original problem goes unfixed. A successful career in the military means knowing when to draw the line with alcohol, and when to get help when the drinking is out of control. The anonymous self-assessment gives individuals the opportunity to check and see if their drinking is a problem and how to get help or cut back."

Military installations and health care providers around the world are recognizing National Alcohol Screening Day and National Alcohol Awareness Month by holding events to reach out and educate people about alcohol use and abuse.

At Hanscom, screening tools will be available at the check-in desk at 66th Medical Squadron clinic. Those interested may stop by the Mental Health clinic for a confidential screening, as well. Personnel seeking help with alcohol misuse may call the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program, or ADAPT, at 781-225-6392.