According to USA Today, General Peter Chiarelli, the Army’s Number 2 officer, is recommending a double in the number of substance abuse counselors employed by the army in order to handle the soaring number of soldiers seeking treatment for alcohol abuse. Gen. Chiarelli said in a recent interview that about 300 hundred more counselors are needed to meet the Army’s demand, cut back on wait time for soldiers to be seen, and offer more accommodating hours such as evening and weekend services.
The Army recently released records that show 9,199 soldiers enrolled in treatment services last year for alcohol abuse. This was a 56% increase from 2003. Also revealed was that 16,388 soldiers last year sought some type of counseling. Les McFarling, the director of the Army Substance Abuse Program, said that many soldiers are referred to substance abuse counseling after an incident such as a drunk driving citation. And if, according to the counselors, the soldiers do not appear to suffer from substance abuse, they are required to attend a two-day educational course.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that since 2001 and being involved in two wars … that we probably have a higher incidence of alcohol abuse,” Chiarelli said. Last year, Chiarelli and then-Army secretary Pete Geren, worked to reduce the Army’s record rate of suicide. Chiarelli noted that substance abuse has been identified as an issue in many of the deaths, which reached 160 confirmed and suspected cases in 2009. Alcohol remains a larger problem than drugs, making up 85% of the caseloads.
The Army’s service of counselors is down 20% from its authorized staffing level of 290, and the Army is aiming to staff one counselor for every 1,600 soldiers. With the Army continuing to look for ways to offer soldiers the most comprehensive and effective treatment possible, the 10-day Neurotransmitter Restoration (NTR) seems like it could be quite helpful in a situation like this.
