WOMACK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Seeking medical help when someone has a broken bone isn’t a big decision. Seeking help when the ache is deep-down and less visible is much harder.
“The blame—that bothers me,” said Dr. Breque Tyson, psychologist and clinical director of the Fort Bragg Substance Use Disorder Care Clinics. “It’s hard to depend on a substance. No one wants to be labelled an addict.”
Prime for Life, an Army Substance Abuse Program course, is successful because it fights the stigma.
“The course looks at addiction as a health and lifestyle problem and helps students identify where they are in the spectrum or continuum toward addiction,” said ASAP prevention coordinator Katrina Kilmartin. “ASAP isn’t anti-drinking or anti-alcohol for everyone. It’s pro low-risk choices based on individual need.”
The SUDCC program, like most civilian programs, is also designed to support overall health and wellbeing related to responsible alcohol use or abstinence.
“Success with substance use disorders is relative and very individualized,” said Tyson. “It is determined jointly between the service member and the provider, and we have found sobriety is only one aspect of the recovery and of success.”
The staff are trained to work with military personnel and have a profound appreciation and respect for service members, honoring the nation's sacred trust to care for those who wear and have worn the uniform and for their families.
“When a service member is psychologically, emotionally, and physically free of addiction, the family and the military benefit,” said Tyson.
Service members can now self-refer for voluntary care prior to an incident if they are concerned about their drinking and want help before it becomes a factor in their personal and professional life.
Command will not be involved or aware of the services unless an incident occurs or the drinking is more significant and requires a higher level of care.
In addition to active duty military personnel, the care clinics on Fort Bragg also work with retirees and may see family members for education when possible.
Family members and civilian employees are currently treated through the ASAP’s Employee Assistance Program or Child and Family Behavioral Health System.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a program established in 1987 to help reduce the stigma so often associated with alcohol use disorders and to encourage people to seek help.
Substance Use Disorder Care Clinics / Embedded Behavioral Health Clinics:
• WHSC (910) 907-6825
• Clark (910) 908-5786
• Robinson (910) 907-9486
• 3rd Special Forces Group (910) 908-2256
• West Bragg (910) 432-1464
• East Bragg (910) 908-5358
Other Resources:
• Chaplain’s Office (910) 396-1121
• Military Family Life Consultants (910) 391-9171
• Employee Assistance Program (910) 396-5784
• Military One Source (800) 342-9647