Military Installations Worldwide Encourage Service Members and
Families to Learn Their Drinking IQ
                             

Anonymous alcohol assessment and education available year-round online

In recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month, the Department of Defense will offer free, anonymous assessment tools online throughout the month of April and year-round in an effort to educate service members and their families on the signs of alcohol abuse and how to get help for an alcohol problem. These tools are designed to educate military personnel about the potential risks associated with alcohol use and help them make informed decisions about their drinking behaviors. In an effort to raise awareness of these and other resources available to service personnel and their families, the military is promoting a new website, www.DrinkingIQ.org, at installations worldwide.

Every year, millions of Americans – one in every 13 adults – suffer from alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence. Millions more drink at times or in ways that can place themselves or others at risk.

Military personnel and their families may also be prone to alcohol misuse because of the stresses associated with deployment. A new study released by the University of Minnesota and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last month revealed that alcohol abuse is a problem among active-duty military personnel and is strongly associated with many health and social problems, just as it is in the general public.

The assessment and education tools are offered through the Mental Health Self-Assessment Program® (MHSAP), a voluntary, anonymous mental health and alcohol self-assessment and referral program. In an effort to raise awareness about responsible drinking, MHSAP has distributed promotional materials including posters and sports water bottles to military installation fitness centers and alcohol programs. The materials direct service personnel and their families to www.DrinkingIQ.org, which connects users to the online tools available at no cost 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Providing service members and their families with information and resources empowers them to learn the potential risks associated with drinking and determine if they or a loved one may need to seek appropriate support,” said Col. Joyce Adkins, Ph.D, MPH, Department of Defense, Office of Health Affairs. “Research indicates that brief interventions for drinking problems can be an effective treatment for some alcohol use disorders without the need for further clinical intervention.”

In addition to offering alcohol assessment and education tools year-round, the MHSAP program offers self-assessments for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder. To learn more or to assess your risk for any of these disorders, go to https://gold-barracuda-130963.hostingersite.com/military/