MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Just because the birth place of the Marine Corps was in a tavern, doesn’t mean “New Breed” Marines have to drink every time liberty is sounded.
According to a Department of Defense Survey in 2002, 27.7 percent of Marines are heavy drinkers, 22.1 percent were moderate to heavy drinkers, 16 percent were moderate, 15 percent were frequent drinkers, and 15 percent did not drink at all.
The percentages equate to a higher chance of alcohol related incidents and a higher probability of Marines being becoming full blown alcoholics.
“We have too many service members referred here (Marine Corps Community Services counseling center) because of irresponsible drinking,” said Gail V. Gore, MCCS substance abuse counselor and native of San Diego. “In the military, there is a problem with drinking out of boredom. We don’t have anything against people drinking; it’s not the issue of drinking alcohol. It is about responsible drinking.”
Abusing alcohol is one of the first steps leading to alcoholism.
“For alcohol abuse there might be some problems at work, but nothing extensive,” said Gore. “It indicates someone is simply abusing alcohol and there is a problem, but it is a problem of abuse.”
Alcoholism is when there is a drinking pattern and abusing booze becomes constant in someone’s life. Alcohol dependency or alcoholism is the psychological or physiological reliance on alcohol.
“Alcoholism is when your body is telling your mind you need alcohol to function,” said Rodney A. Noah, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron substance abuse control officer and native of San Diego. “If a person wakes up in the morning and the first thing he thinks about is that he needs alcohol to start his day off, that would be alcohol dependency.”
Even though there is plenty information out there about the effects of alcohol, the military has the stigma, “Work hard, play hard.”
“When I was on active duty, my chiefs and staff noncommissioned officers would tell me there were liquid lunches and it was the norm,” said Noah. “But as the military grew, things changed. Leaders now know those behaviors affect the performance of the unit.”
Noah has a few tips for service members who want to keep their level of drinking moderately down.
“I’m not naïve, Marines and sailors are going to drink, it is part of the lifestyle,” said Noah. “But, I do preach responsibility. Like if you are going out with your buddies on the weekend, make sure everyone knows how much everyone is going to drink and pace yourself. Set time limits and the amount of alcohol you are going to drink. For example drink three to four beers and then drink water for an hour.”
There are many ways to have fun in Iwakuni that don’t involve alcohol.
“You don’t have to drink alcohol to have fun,” said Noah. “There are a lot of things to do in Japan that don’t involve alcohol. I tell the Marines and sailors to experience Japan.”
According to Noah, being here and going out in town to get “wasted” ruins our reputation as Americans, making us look like drunken cowboys.
“It gives us a bad image, when Japanese see drunken Americans,” said Noah. “We are here as ambassadors from the states and every time they see an American they make a judgment for all Americans.”
But if you or someone you know has reached the point of no return and are an alcoholic, they can confidentially seek help at the MCCS counseling center.
“If you have concerns over someone’s drinking, I would approach them personally, because they would probably listen to you before they listen to someone like myself or the command,” said Gore.
For Marines who feel they are drinking too much, help is close by. The MCCS counseling services offer the Early Intervention Class, which confidentially provides education on the negative effects and consequences of substance abuse and offers information on alternative choices that can lead to a healthier and more productive life.
“The Early Intervention Class is a class that educates people about abusive drinking and abusive behavior,” said Gore. “It’s educational in nature so you can get information (about alcoholism) and realize, “Hey, maybe I do have a problem.”
For more information on the class, call 253-4526.