JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. - On May 4, 2008, Chanthea Elizabeth Prak, a Fort Lewis Soldier who was eight months pregnant, was killed on Interstate 5 when a drunk driver headed north in the south-bound lanes and collided with her car.
Arclania Montgomery, deployment cycle support specialist, Base Substance Abuse Program, described the effects of that tragedy during a May 5 briefing.
"To lose someone due to drunk driving has effects on everyone.
"It's not just the victims involved in the accidents," Montgomery said. "It's their families, their friends, their co-workers and the family and friends of the drunk driver. They all have to deal with the repercussions."
Military personnel already face enough stress, Montgomery said. Sadly, it isn't until such tragedies occur that people understand the extent of emotional trauma involved.
The Base Substance Abuse Program on Joint Base Lewis-McChord provides assistance to active-duty and retired service members, as well as local Army and Air Force civilian employees and adult family members looking for assistance in dealing with a variety of addictions. BSAP, like all Army Substance Abuse Program services, now falls under the supervision of Installation Management Command.
BSAP also provides services to assist commanders in unit readiness, and provide information on the physical and mental repercussions involved with drug and alcohol addictions, suicides and their effects on individuals and the unit.
"Sometimes we become very (self centered) and say, 'That will never happen to me,'" said Margie Winters-Harris, prevention coordinator. "Anytime we give a briefing, we tell people about the dangers and consequences and tell them about the different options available to them."
The personnel at BSAP work hard to inform service members about a variety of programs available to them. The hope, Harris said, is to prevent alcohol-related offenses by putting out as much information as possible.
Among the resources available is a shuttle van operated by (Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers), which provides free transportation for military personnel to their quarters.
The BSAP staff also provides information on a unique program. The THAT GUY program uses dark humor, peer-to-peer mentoring and realistic situations to show service members the negative consequences of binge drinking.
"The THAT GUY program is an ongoing Department of Defense-funded program working in conjunction with the Chris Farley Foundation designed to increase awareness," Harris said. "It is a multi-media campaign that uses online and offline communication with the goal of reducing excessive drinking among young service members."
"Education is the key," Montgomery said. "(We) want to educate people to prevent tragedies from happening."
Service members sometimes worry about the repercussions of admitting they have a problem, Harris said. For this reason, a pilot program has been started on base allowing individuals to anonymously seek support.
"The Confidential Alcohol Treatment and Education Program is designed to get service members the help they need without fear of the stigma," Harris said.
One of the primary goals is to increase the number of self-referrals, Montgomery said. Participating in the program does not require command notification. However, it is limited to service members who have not had alcohol-related incidents in the past.
BSAP also provides unit risk inventories for commanders as part of the Deployment Cycle Support Directive. The inventories help commanders identify danger areas within their units related to alcohol, drugs and other factors.
"The DCSD is an invaluable tool for commanders," Montgomery said. "It's a really good tool because it helps (unit commanders) identify the specific areas (they) need to focus on to get the help (they) need.
"The questionnaire is anonymous, so people are more likely to speak freely and honestly. Commanders should take advantage and make sure to utilize the DCSD," Montgomery said.
For more information on the services and programs provided, the BSAP offices are located in Building 2008B on North 3rd Street, between Pendleton and Liggett avenues on JBLM Lewis Main.
By Spc. James Tamez is assigned to the 19th Public Affairs Detachment. This article appeared in Joint Base Lewis-McChord's weekly newspaper, the Northwest Guardian.
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