The clinical assets of the U.S. Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) will transition from the Installation Management Command (IMCOM) to the Army Medical Command (MEDCOM).

ASAP counselors at the Fort Rucker Army Substance Abuse Program are moving from their current location to the LAHC Behavioral Health Clinic and will begin seeing patients at the new location on October 24.

After a comprehensive review, the secretary of the Army directed the realignment of the ASAP clinical care from the Army Installation Command (IMCOM) to the Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) to integrate substance abuse care with the Behavioral Health System of Care. IMCOM will retain responsibility and policy oversight for ASAP drug deterrence and testing programs, prevention training and the ASAP training curriculum.

ASAP will transition into the Army's Substance Use Disorder Clinical Care (SUDCC) program.

SUDCC uses a multidisciplinary approach to treat and provide Soldiers, Family members and Army Civilians the resources and support they need to overcome the challenges of illicit drug use, prescription medicine and alcohol abuse.

Integrating clinical services with behavioral health to address co-occurring mental and physical illnesses and substance use disorders will allow for more effective and evidence-based early intervention.

"This realignment will ensure holistic and integrated substance abuse treatment," said Maj. Rhianon Groom, Chief of Behavioral Health at LAHC. "We believe it allows medical staff and our substance-abuse disorder counterparts to communicate easier to be able to take better care of patients."

Substance abuse and substance use disorders have increased dramatically for the Army since 2001, which is largely attributed to the cumulative and continued stressors of a nation at war. Currently, 30 percent of Soldiers with a behavioral health condition screen positive for substance use disorder and 50 percent with suicidal ideations screen positive for excessive alcohol use.

The transition from the IMCOM to the MEDCOM has been in the works for some time. In March 2015, then Secretary of the Army John McHugh directed the Assistant Secretary of the Army to conduct a comprehensive review of the ASAP.

ASAP Prevention Services can be reached at 334-255-7509.