FORT SILL, Okla. (May 14, 2015) -- Last week Breaking Bad opened the story of Mike Anderson and Clayton Johnson, two men with substance abuse problems. Anderson came to a breaking point when, while intoxicated, he was in a car accident with his two children. Johnson's wife encouraged him to seek help after he developed changes to his mind and body. This is part two of the three-part story.
BEGINNING TO QUIT
After realizing he needed help Anderson attended a civilian program in downtown Lawton. Also, he was encouraged to seek out the Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) on post. He met with Fran Alltizer, Alcohol and Drug Control Office program manager, who worked as a counselor at the time. She explained how ASAP not only works with active-duty military, but also retired military and family of service members. She also said ASAP is free to participate in, which can save a person hundreds of dollars.
"Some outside clinics charge between $800 and $1,000 for an assessment," Alltizer said. "Our Army Drug and Alcohol Preven-tion Training fulfills the 16 hours of education required by the state to get your driver's license back. It saves so much money."
When people come to the ASAP building to seek help, they are assessed to see if they need clinical help or prevention help. Most are admitted into the prevention portion of the program which is designed to educate them. People can also attend the Army Drug and Alcohol Prevention Training without enrolling in ASAP.
The clinical portion is reserved for those individuals who require more advanced assistance whether through specialized help or medication. Active-duty Soldiers enrolling in ASAP, together with their commander, attend a meeting where a personalized program is created based on their needs.
"We determine if they would benefit from individualized counseling, the number of sessions they need, if they should meet once a week or every other week, and we talk with commanders to determine what will work," Alltizer said. "The program is 90 days long and if there is a counseling session, then that is the Soldier's place of duty. That's why we talk with the commanders. They have to agree to the program and sign."
Anderson and Johnson were placed in the preventive program designed to help participants open up and share their experiences, thoughts and feelings. Anderson, a self-proclaimed loner, said he found relief in sharing his feelings.
"I wasn't embarrassed, but was uncomfortable at first," Anderson said. "My kids were in the car with me and every time I say it, I shame myself. But those kinds of feelings, I've got to get out. Feelings of self-pity, worthlessness and asking, 'what am I doing with my life?'"
Anderson chose to quit cold turkey and said his body immediately felt painful changes with sleeplessness that lasted months. His taste buds changed as well and he developed a strong sweet tooth, exchanging a 12-pack of beer for a gallon of sweetened tea each day.
Johnson also quit cold turkey and when he first visited the ASAP building he admits being nervous someone would see him there.
"Everyone knows what building you're going into," he said. "They see your rank and the guys look at you and they're thinking to themselves, 'why are you here?' I can feel it. You don't think (senior enlisted and officers) have issues like that, but it's real. We go through things just like everyone else."
Johnson attended meetings and counseling sessions and even his wife attended on occasion. Around Christmas Johnson talked with Alltizer about his plans to try and quit on his own. She encouraged him and they met as often as she could, but in the end he realized he couldn't do it alone.
It was New Year's Day 2009.
Johnson, with the help of Alltizer, became an inpatient at Red River Hospital Behavioral & Inpatient Treatment Center. The center provides treatment to military and civilians alike providing behavioral health and substance abuse services. Located in Wichita Falls, Johnson enrolled in the 30-day program where he stayed onsite and attended classes.
"The first couple of days are tough, but everything gets better and better," Johnson said. "They are awesome people, but you have to be willing to work. The hardest part was I have four kids so it was scary for them. They think something is wrong and are asking when I am coming home. That was hard. But when you have a good support system, it works a lot better."
He said some counselors had a similar substance-abuse history which also made it easier for him to talk to them.
"You can't relate to someone if they haven't been through the struggle," he said.
That struggle was real. There were withdrawals, and Johnson would start shaking, Eventually it went away. What didn't go away were the constant reminders of what he couldn't have.
"I watch a lot of sports and you see a lot of alcohol-related ads," he said. "I had to change people, places and things."
Doing this meant Johnson would re-evaluate friendships centered on drinking, or how he enjoyed sports which often went hand-in-hand with beer, Even within the military, many times military events would have alcohol and Johnson chose to stay away from those situations.
"People will ask why I don't go to a lot of functions," he said. "I don't tell them why. Just that I don't want to go. They don't need to know my issues."
Alltizer said the breakthrough for Johnson happened while at Red River. Spending those 30 days there helped Johnson to address the underlying issues of what made him want to drink.
"It was like a magic formula," Alltizer said. "He quit drinking and got his life together."
But that was years ago for Johnson and Anderson, and a lot can happen in a few years.
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