Small amounts of alcohol produce a feeIing ofwell-being and light headedness. However, sincealcohol is a depressant that slows down the centralnervous system, those good feelings quickly wear off.Large amounts of alcohol over a long period of timecause anxiety. Just as with other dangerous drugs,alcohol may cause physical and psychologicaldependence. This dependence is an illness calledalcoholism.The Navy’s age-old problem with alcohol isepitomized in the lyrics of an old drinking song, “Whatdo you do with a drunken sailor?” Until the last fewyears, the answer was, You let him go down the hatchor down the tubes. For a long time we have contributedto the career demise of the alcohol abuser because of ourown traditional involvement in alcohol use. We have notaccepted the evidence that alcohol, although legal, is adrug that some people cannot handle. Until recently,alcoholism was considered a disciplinary oradministrative problem, which, if unresolved, couldonly lead to a discharge from the Navy.Navy Policy Regarding AlcoholismVarious SECNAV and OPNAV instructions set forthNavy policy regarding alcoholism. Alcohol and DrugAbuse Prevention and Control OPNAVINST 5350.4B,provides the Navy’s policy on drug and alcohol abuse.The Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NADAP)uses this instruction as a guide.The Navy acknowledges its responsibility forcounseling all members regarding the dangers ofalcohol by providing information to help alcoholicsrecover. The Navy meets its responsibility by providingalcoholism treatment centers and specializedcounseling. You share the responsibility of assisting thecommand in referring those who are alcoholic totreatment facilities.Military members are responsible for their owndrinking habits; if they believe they have an alcoholproblem, they are responsible for seeking treatment.Each member remains accountable for any deteriorationof performance caused by his or her own alcoholism.Firmly maintain and affirm the Navy’s drug andalcohol abuse policies as they relate to standards ofbehavior, performance, and discipline. Do not consideralcoholism, in itself, as grounds for disciplinary action;however, do evaluate a member’s demonstrated conductresulting from the use or abuse of alcohol. Then, ifneeded, take disciplinary or administrative action asrequired. In each case, the appropriate action willdepend upon the facts and circumstances.The Navy recognizes. that society has oftenassociated a stigma with alcoholism that has little basisin fact and is counterproductive to successfulrehabilitation. The effects of this stigma have reinforcedthe alcoholic’s or alcohol abuser’s denial of anyproblem. The effects of this stigma have alsoencouraged supervisory and medical personnel to coverup in an attempt to protect the member’s career. To bringthe alcohol problem into the open where it can betreated, the Navy must reduce the effects of the stigmato the minimum.Members who have undergo successful alcoholtreatment and recovery have the same job security andopportunities for continued service and promotion asother Navy members. However, any misconduct,misbehavior, or reduction in performance caused byalcohol will affect performance evaluations, dutyassignments, continued service, job security, andpromotion opportunity.Because alcohol abuse involves the family of theabuser, the Navy encourages the development ofprograms and activities that contribute to a healthyfamily life. The Navy also encourages the developmentof programs to help restore to a healthy state thosefamilies who are suffering from the effects ofalcoholism. Immediate members of the family of thealcohol-dependent person may receive thoserehabilitation services available at their command.Persons must make their own decision to use or notto use alcoholic beverages lawfully. Department of theNavy policy toward alcohol consists of three courses ofaction. The first is to promote responsible attitudes aboutalcohol in those who choose to drink. The second is topromote the social acceptance of those who choose notto drink. The third is to provide both drinkers andnondrinkers with realistic information about alcohol andalcoholism.Understanding Alcohol and Its EffectsSurprisingly, many experienced drinkers arerelatively ignorant of the way their favorite beveragesaffect them, for better or worse. The same applies to theirnondrinking families and friends who may be concernedabout why drinkers behave as they do.Until recent years, when drinking problems forcedpublic concern, little factual alcohol- and health-relatedinformation was available. Although people could find3-15
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