The Fort Benning Army Substance Abuse Program tested a new online version of PRIME For Life, the drug and alcohol intervention program used for high-risk Soldiers.

Prevention coordinator Oskar Schlomer said Fort Benning was chosen for the test run because of the center's experience with the "live" class, which he currently teaches twice a month to self-referred and command-referred Soldiers.

The forthcoming online version will remove inhibitors created by deployments or other military travel.

"Once (the prototype) is complete, regardless of where Soldiers are in the world, they can receive this training," he said. It is set to be released in about a year.

Program developer Ejna Mitchell, vice president of programs at the Prevention Research Institute Inc., said the virtual classroom will also allow for more technological options to deliver the message of self-awareness and making low-risk, responsible choices.

"We want to teach them when you make high-risk choices, you often lose the things you value," Mitchell said.

The entire program should be about the same length as the 16-hour "live" class.

For more information on the live class, visit www.primeforlife.org.

Learn about the online prototype

A pretest includes the choice of four instructors. Soldiers can select the one they identify with most.

A values activity requires Soldiers to reflect on who matters most to them and imagine life without them.

A high-tolerance module reveals that people who can "handle more" may be at greater risk because it indicates the person may be moving closer to addiction.

A drink measurement module discusses how much alcohol constitutes a single drink.

The completed version will include a live chat feature.