Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program

The Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program's primary purpose is to provide prevention education and training to both military and civilians to enhance mission readiness. The program also provides requisite knowledge of the effects of alcohol abuse and misuse, to ultimately assist in making low-risk decisions. The Alcohol Screening Program was also developed to help maximize mission readiness and administers random Breathalyzer tests to 10% of all Marines/Sailors each month. 

The Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program’s primary responsibility is to support Marine and Sailor alcohol misuse prevention activities and review surrounding community reports detailing the current alcohol situation or other reports as appropriate. The AAPP’s goal is to help identify risk factors in the base community that relate to alcohol incidents. The primary goals are (1) to reduce alcohol-related incidents, (2) to eliminate/reduce underage drinking, and (3) to reduce alcohol-related problems due to driving under the influence. Trainings and educational classes are offered at least once a month for the Marines/Sailors and their dependents at the Substance Abuse Counseling Center. Activities and events are also coordinated through the Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program to reach MCAS staff, leaders, youth, and other community stakeholders. 

PRIME FOR LIFE

PRIME For Life is a preventative course offered USMC-wide and is taught monthly, in a 4.5-hour classroom format. Prime for Life is an evidence-based motivational prevention, intervention, and pretreatment program specifically intended for individuals who want to learn what making high-risk choices looks like and even to examine their own possible high-risk behaviors. It is designed to challenge common beliefs and attitudes that directly contribute to high-risk alcohol and drug use. The PFL approach helps Marines and Sailors explore how they perceive risk in order to focus on protecting their values. 

ALCOHOL SCREENING PROGRAM TRAINING

The Alcohol Screening Program Training is designed for new Alcohol Screening Program Coordinators or for those that will like a refresher on the ASP requirements. In this training, the letter of instruction, Standard Operation Procedures, and new MARADMINs are reviewed. 

Alcohol: ENHANCING WHAT YOU KNOW

The Alcohol: Enhancing What You Know workshop is an opportunity to learn about the levels of drinking while developing a better understanding of the concerns related to each level of drinking. Do you drink alcohol? Do you drink just at special occasions? Do you drink daily? Why does it even matter how much or how often you consume alcohol? With the use of “drunk goggles”, allow yourself to bust myths about alcohol while entertaining the idea of low-risk drinking to better support mission readiness. This monthly workshop, with the assistance of the “drunk goggles”, allows participants to experience how alcohol impairment challenges hand-eye coordination and skills required in making safe and low-risk choices. This workshop helps foster teamwork and communication skills while raising awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving and promotes low-risk drinking. 

SURVIVE the RIDE (coming soon)

This workshop is an interactive means for bringing awareness to the dangers and severity of impaired driving. This workshop is used as a preventative method to help in developing healthy views of or challenging high-risk beliefs about drinking and driving. In a group setting, participants will operate the pedal go-carts while wearing “drunk goggles” to simulate impaired driving, in a safe and controlled environment. Survive the Ride is intended to promote sober driving while offering alternatives to driving under the influence of alcohol in order to minimize and eliminate alcohol-related incidents of driving under the influence.

LET’S RAISE A GLASS TO MOCKTAILS!

If you think the only drink worth having is alcohol or consists of alcohol, think again! In this 60-minute workshop, discover the delights and benefits of a Mocktail. For those who want to drink low-risk, those who are underage, or those who simply choose not to consume alcohol: make your own mocktails. This workshop is by request and drink options are endless. Call for further details and to book your workshop.

Top 10 Ways to Eliminate Stress Without Alcohol
Adi Jaffe Ph.D.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
You don't have to train for a marathon, but moving your body and light exercise is great for stress. It eases muscle tension and induces positive feelings. Try to go for a walk, run, or stretch daily. Different forms of exercise provide different responses for different people; yoga has been shown to increase GABA activity and therefore help in calming anxiety. The effects of exercise are cumulative, meaning they build up over time! I personally couldn't imagine life without this stress relief form.

MUSIC
Many people have their go-to songs for stress relief and zoning out. But this song is scientifically proven to lessen anxiety levels in just eight minutes. You may also find it relaxing to listen to melodic sounds such as the rainforest, birdcalls, and falling rain. Music is recommended to be implemented for a minimum of 20 minutes per day, no matter what your musical interest. This is one of my go-to's!

GRATITUDE JOURNAL
Taking a few minutes a day to think about the things in your life you are grateful for can change your perspective on life for the better. I personally use the 5-Minute Journal every morning to help me prepare for the day, especially because it helps bias my thinking towards gratitude (instead of resentments and anxiety).

ALTRUISM
See what you can do to help someone else. Research has shown that altruism improves mood and takes the focus off our own struggles. 

SLEEP
When we have a good night's sleep our capacity to cope with stress is far better than when we've slept poorly. Incorporate good sleep hygiene habits into your evening routine for example noise reduction, going to bed and waking at the same time daily, avoiding caffeine, nicotine, alcohol at night, and daytime napping.

MEDITATION
Meditation involves deliberately focusing your attention inwards either with or without specific guidance or the use of a mantra. It can give you a sense of calm and can help you gain a new perspective on a stressful situation.

BREATHWORK
Focusing on your breath and utilizing deep breathing techniques can help ease the elevated physiological changes you experience when stressed. When your body is calm, then you are more focused and able to think clearly. Different techniques can be used in different situations, but even the simplest 5-breath focus effort can yield incredible results.

MINDFULNESS
This ties into the two techniques above, but I particularly like the 5...4...3...2...1 mindfulness technique which grounds you in the here and now by activating all of your senses. Here's how: focus on 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, 1 thing you can taste. Try it! This is just one version of mindfulness, which is thought of as paying attention to something, for a given period of time while removing as much judgment or expectation from the equation.

POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS
Repeat a mantra or positive affirmation outside of meditation practice such as "I am safe," or "I am worthy," to help shift your perception and belief patterns by reinforcing your strengths. For stress relief, try saying "My mind is at ease and I am capable of doing whatever is needed," and "With every breath, I am more relaxed and flowing through my day with ease."

SUPPORT FROM OTHERS
If you feel overwhelmed by stress and you're self-medicating with alcohol and it's affecting your everyday life, then reach out for help and get support to make healthier life choices. We live in a world that still judges those who need help to deal with their mental well-being, which is sad given just how much help we're OK receiving in other areas (like sports training, academics, etc.).