Marine Corps Substance Abuse Situation Dallas TX July 2005

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Marine CorpsSubstance Abuse SituationDallas
TXJuly 2005
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Substance Abuse

• Substance Abuse impacts all Marines
• Many misconceptions exist
• NCOs are the key to change the environment
• Alcohol is the most significant problem dealing
  with substance abuse

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Substance Abuse

• Illicit Drugs
• Still relevant
• 7.9 of Marines in the latest DoD Health
  Behaviors survey reported illicit drug use
• The Army has the highest amount of self reported
  at 9.8

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Substance Abuse
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Substance Abuse
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Substance Abuse

• Urinalysis
• Marine Corps conducted over 4 million samples
  since 1998
• Marine Corps conducts more urinalysis than all of
  the other services (by population)
• Over 20,000 Marines since 1998 have popped
  positive
• Stimulant positives are increasing rapidly and
  are a significant threat to the Marine Corps

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Substance Abuse
The Marine Corps THC has reduced over the past
two years
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Substance Abuse
Why have stimulants increased significantly since
1998? Amphetamines 151 increase Methamphetamine
91 increase Cocaine 85 increase Samples
increased by 72 in the same period.
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Substance Abuse
Why has MDMA decreased?
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Substance Abuse

• Alcohol
• Alcohol events within the Marine Corps are
  increasing
• Alcohol is severely impacting our young Marines
• Data from the DoD Survey of Health Related
  Behaviors Among Military Personnel reports the
  Marine Corps has the highest heavy alcohol usage
  when compared to the other services

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Substance Abuse

• Heavy alcohol usage is defined by the Diagnostic
  Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition (DSM-IV)
  as
• Consumption of five or more drinks on the same
  occasion at least once a week in the past 30 days
• If a Marine drinks at this level they should not
  be considered an Alcoholic
• Heavy drinking is a definition used for medical
  purposes. Basically, if they drink at this level
  sooner or later medical problems will develop.

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Substance Abuse

• Heavy drinking can increase the risk of
• Certain cancers, (liver, esophagus, throat, and
  larynx).
• It can also cause liver cirrhosis,
• Immune system problems,
• Brain damage
• In addition, drinking increases the risk of death
  from automobile crashes, recreational accidents,
  and on-the-job accidents and also increases the
  likelihood of homicide and suicide.

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Substance Abuse

• Alcoholics need alcohol--they are physically and
  psychologically addicted to the drug. This
  dependence is often so strong that drinking will
  continue even while health is destroyed and
  despite the harm caused to family, friends and
  work. When alcoholics try to quit, they suffer
  severe withdrawal. And to succeed, they must
  abstain completely, and for good. Alcoholism is a
  long term and often progressive disease.

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Substance Abuse

• Heavy drinkers aren't usually dependent on booze.
  They can stop if they must, and when they do,
  they don't usually experience severe withdrawal.
  Also, it's easier for a heavy drinker to cut
  back, or to stop drinking altogether, than for an
  alcoholic to get on and to stay on the wagon. In
  addition, heavy drinkers are often more willing
  to admit they have a problem and to try to
  correct it, particularly if they receive good
  advice on how to cut down their consumption.

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Substance Abuse
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Substance Abuse
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Substance Abuse

• Every category dealing with alcohol has increased
  dramatically when compared to the 2002 Behavioral
  Health Survey data against the 1998 survey.
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• Illicit Drug Positives 28.4 Increase
• Trends Heavy Alcohol Use 14.5 Increase
• Serious Consequences 8.4 Increase
• Productivity Loss 23.7 Increase
• Dependence Symptoms 97.2 Increase
• Alcohol Related Deaths 22 Marines died in FY04
• (Most since FY00)

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Substance Abuse

• What can I do about it?
• Set the tone
• Refer to treatment early
• Hold accountable
• Change the environment
• Support your SACO

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Substance Abuse

• Questions?