AF, Marine programs aim to battle substance abuse

Servicemembers are waiting longer to enter treatment and are sometimes dealing with other mental-health, drug-related or dependency issues, he said.

AF, Marine programs aim to battle substance abuse
By Natasha Lee, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Tuesday, September 23, 2008



Most of the airmen who end up in Capt. Aron Potter’s office are there because they got into trouble.

A bar fight or some other alcohol-related incident landed them in counseling at the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program at Kadena Air Base.

But it’s the binge drinkers and the heavy drinkers he worries about.

"It’s the ones who’ve been drinking, showing up to work, but haven’t been caught yet," said Potter, a clinical psychologist and ADAPT program manager with the 18th Medical Operations Squadron.

Potter said his office receives about 20 referrals a month from unit commanders, but he wants to see self-referrals increase.

"If left untreated, the problem just gets worse, and over time it could affect your career," Potter said.
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