Ready, Resilient and Sober

FORT DETRICK, Md. -April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of alcohol misuse, promoting healthy habits and educating the Fort Detrick community about the impact alcohol misuse has on your overall health and life, and to offer support to those struggling with alcohol addiction.

In the spirit of the Army values, we emphasize the importance of taking control of addictive behaviors to maintain operational readiness, ensure deployability, prioritizing well-being and the overall wellness of our people, our Soldiers, and Army families. These principles guide our efforts to address alcohol misuse to foster a healthier, more resilient community.

Alcohol misuse continues to be a significant issue in the United States. Each year, there are more than 178,000 alcohol-related deaths, making alcohol a leading preventable cause of death. Additionally, alcohol is associated with over 200 disease and injury related conditions.

If you knew you could prevent alcohol related deaths for yourself or a loved one, would you? Of course you would! Tackling these statistics may seem daunting but there are steps to combat alcohol addiction, possibly saving the life of someone you love.

How you say?

Education is key.

Sir Francis Bacon said “ipse scientia potestas est” which translates to “knowledge itself is power”, learn about the risks associated with alcohol misuse and find ways to combat stress and anxiety.

Recognize the signs.

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol misuse, seek professional help early. Early intervention can prevent the escalation of addiction and related health issues. Drop the preconceived idea that seeking help means weakness, it could be the bravest thing you can do, for yourself, your unit, your coworkers, and/or your family. Stay tuned in the April edition of the Standard for more information on addressing the stigma we place on ourselves and others when it comes to addiction.

How do you know if you or someone you care about is experiencing problematic alcohol use, and where do you go to find help and support? Screen4Success is a free 10-minute online screening to look for signs of risk and help find support. Check it out! https://www.samhsa.gov/talk-they-hear-you/screen4success

Live the Army Values.

Living the Army Values—like loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage—is all about showing up every day with a strong sense of responsibility, whether you're in uniform or serving as a civilian. These values guide actions and decisions, ensuring that every individual contributes positively to keeping the mission on track.

INTEGRITY: Being honest and accountable for one’s actions, drink responsibly if you choose to drink, evaluate your drinking and address the issue if you find you are struggling with misuse.

RESPECT: Respecting yourself and others enough to recognize the impact alcohol misuse can have on you and your unit and reach out for support and the help you need.

DUTY: Maintaining readiness to conduct operations is crucial for the Army, and alcohol misuse can impair physical and mental readiness, affecting a Soldier's ability to perform his or her duties effectively. Not only that, but Soldiers must be fit and ready to deploy at any time, and alcohol misuse can hinder deployability by causing health issues and impairing judgment.

SELFLESS SERVICE: Putting the welfare of the Nation, the Army, and subordinates before yourself involves making sacrifices. Getting the care, you or someone else the help they need to address alcohol misuse demonstrates a Soldiers commitment to the greater good and the success and well-being of their unit.

HONOR and PERSONAL COURAGE: It takes honor and courage to confront and address alcohol misuse, whether in yourself or others. There are several resources available if you or someone you know needs help. Have the courage to ask and seek help, the mission and others depend on it.

By living these values, we create a culture of excellence and dedication that strengthens our nation's defense and supports our communities.

Be honest with yourself.

Do you use alcohol to cope with stress and anxiety?

There are many ways to combat stress and anxiety without turning to alcohol.

Here at Fort Detrick, the ASAP Wellness Room, a space dedicated to relaxation and reflection is available to you should you experience stress or need to step away for a few moments to regroup. The Fort Detrick Army Substance Abuse Prevention team has created this space located in Building 1520 just for you. If you haven’t taken advantage of this resource, the ASAP team encourages you to come over for a visit.

The Wellness room is open during normal business hours, Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. It can be used in conjunction with Employee Assistance services or alone. Anyone wishing to use the room can do so, if not being used by another individual. “Our Wellness Room is a private space where you can sit with your thoughts and tend to your emotional wellbeing. As we are often in positions where we need to simply keep going, having a place where we can slow down and focus on ourselves, can be extremely beneficial to our mental health. Our hope is that the Fort Detrick community sees this as another tool to use on our journey to wellness,” said Erika Bishop, Fort Detrick Employee Assistance Program Coordinator.

Additional ways to reduce stress and anxiety:

Exercise regularly: Physical activity releases endorphins, which are natural mood lifters. Take a walk, get fresh air, try something new like hiking, yoga, or turn on your favorite music and dance like no one is watching.

Practice mindfulness and meditation: Techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness can help calm your mind and reduce stress. Mindfulness doesn’t mean having the concentration of a monk, it just means living in the moment, being present and aware of your thoughts.

Connect with other people: Spending time with friends, family or meeting new people can help with feelings of isolation.

Learn something or go someplace new: Take up a new hobby or engage in activities you enjoy, such as reading, painting, playing sports, playing an instrument, going to concerts or museums. The Fort Detrick area offers a vast array of activities, events, restaurants, outdoor activities, such as going tubing down the Potomac, hiking at Cunninham Falls or Gambrill State Park, visiting historical sites like Harpers Ferry, WV or Gettysburg, PA. Living in such a dynamic location, it’s hard to be bored.

Laugh: We’ve all heard the adage, “laughter is the best medicine,” well studies have shown that is an accurate statement. Laughter really does work wonders when it comes to cutting down stress. The NIH study “Laughter as medicine: A systematic review and meta-analysis of interventional studies evaluating the impact of spontaneous laughter on cortisol levels.” found that laughter can lower cortisol, a hormone your body makes when you’re stressed. Whether it's watching a funny video or sharing a good laugh with friends, it helps your mind and body relax. So, next time you're feeling overwhelmed, maybe try seeking out something that’ll make you laugh—it’s good for your health and your mood!

Prioritize sleep: Quality sleep is essential for mental health and peak performance at work or home, whether civilian or active duty. Establish a regular sleep routine and make sleep a priority.

Tom Brady, retired NFL quarterback, and the player with the most Super Bowl wins in NFL history has emphasized the importance of sleep as part of his effective and holistic training program. “Sleep is all about recovering. So, if you’re not sleeping, you’re not recovering. And if you’re going to break your body down a lot, you better find ways to build it back up. And the only way to do that is get a lot of sleep,” said Brady.

For additional information on dealing with stress and mental health without turning to alcohol check out: https://ownyourlimits.org/ alcohol-and-your-life/what-alcohol-can-do-to-your-mood-andmental-health/

Raising awareness encourages open conversations and builds a community that prioritizes well-being and recovery. Use this month as an opportunity to make positive changes in yourself and support those on their journey to healthier living.

Being ready, resilient, and sober is crucial for success. Readiness means you're prepared for anything that comes your way, standing ready to face any challenge. Resilience helps you bounce back from challenges to keep performing at your highest level. And staying sober ensures you are thinking clearly and making smart decisions, which is crucial to maintain the trust and reliability the mission demands.

Be all that you can be - stay ready, resilient and sober.