ADAPT-ing to change Published April 7, 2014 By Senior Airman Stephanie Sauberan Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The Minot Air Force Base Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment program is slated to host a free anonymous screening event at the Base Exchange April 15, 2014, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those who cannot attend the event will be able to take an anonymous online alcohol use screening at www.DrinkningIQ.org. "Many people erroneously believe that if they don't 'drink every day' they don't have an alcohol problem. However, determining if one has an alcohol problem is more than just the number of days he or she drinks," said Robert Ciulla, Ph.D., mobile health director for the Defense Department's National Center for Telehealth & Technology. "The anonymous self-assessments at the Drinking IQ website give individuals the opportunity to check and see if their drinking is a problem and how to get help or cut back." The event on base will allow Airmen to complete a short, anonymous alcohol use survey, consisting of approximately one page of questions, so that they can then compare their results to base and national averages. "The base ADAPT clinic is a place where we treat and educate Airmen who have drug or alcohol addictions or Alcohol-related incidents by allowing them to create treatment plans for themselves using tools and techniques taught in a variety of programs," said Capt. Lisa Valentine, 5th Medical Operations Squadron ADAPT program manager. "However, most people that come to ADAPT do not have alcohol abuse or dependence and the program is not punitive." ADAPT offers a variety of classes and programs to assist Airmen who feel they may have a substance abuse problem or anyone who wishes to learn about substance abuse prevention. One such tool available to Airmen is the change plan, which helps them to outline a plan for changes not only in their drinking habits, but in their daily lives. The change program is part of ADAPT's educational program for Airmen to develop responsible drinking habits. "Many Airmen are unaware of the size of a standard drink or amount of alcohol that should be consumed per sitting," said Senior Airman Awotash Asmare, 5th MDOS NCO in charge of ADAPT. Asmare went on to say that a standard drink is one ounce of hard liquor, a single 12 ounces beer or five ounces of wine. Males should not consume more than four standard drinks per sitting while females should limit themselves to three. "It takes approximately two hours for one standard drink to be metabolized by the body," said Valentine. Airmen who consume alcohol at a higher volume than these numbers may develop medical complications or an addiction, Valentine explained. Airmen who feel that they have a problem concerning alcohol are able to self refer to the ADAPT clinic, and if they choose to do so will not suffer repercussions for seeking assistance, she added. However, when issues regarding substance abuse are left unaddressed, they may become disruptive to an Airman's work environment or personal life, said Asmare. When this happens, the Airman may receive a command directed referral, or if they are involved in a domestic incident related to substance abuse or drive under the influence, they can face harsh penalties. "Airmen who are entered into the legal process for a substance abuse related incident may be subject to fines, the loss of stripes, jail time, forfeiture of pay, extra duty or even separation from the Air Force," said Valentine. In addition to penalties issued by the Air Force, Airmen may also subject to judicial actions taken by the state of North Dakota. According to North Dakota state laws penalties for driving drunk are as follows: A first offense is a class B misdemeanor, a $500 fine if the blood alcohol content is below .16, two days imprisonment and a $750 fine if BAC is .16 or greater, an addiction evaluation, 91 days suspension of license if BAC is below .18 and 180 day suspension if it is .18 or greater. A second offense within seven years is a class B misdemeanor, 10 days imprisonment with a $1,500 fine, an addiction evaluation, one year in the 24/7 program, one year suspension of license if BAC is below .18 and two year suspension if it is .18 or greater. A third offense within seven years is a class A misdemeanor, 120 days imprisonment with a $2,000 fine, an addiction evaluation, one year of supervised probation, and one year in the 24/7 program, two year suspension of license if BAC is below .18 and three year suspension if it is .18 or greater. A fourth subsequent offense within seven years is a class C felony, one year and one day imprisonment with a $2,000 fine, an addiction evaluation, two years supervised probation and two years in the 24/7 program. A first offense DUI with a minor in the vehicle is up to one year imprisonment and/or a $2,000 fine. If an individual has a previous conviction for a violation of section 39-08-01.4, it is a Class C Felony. Refusal to submit to blood, breath, urine or on-site tests is a crime and will result in a minimum of 180 days imprisonment with up to three years revocation of driving privileges. Criminal vehicular injury convictions result in up to five years of imprisonment with vehicular homicide resulting in up to 20. Although Minot AFB has had its share of cases involving DUI's, the numbers of such incidents are on a steady decline, said Asmare. According to statistics kept by the base ADAPT clinic, there has been a steady decrease in referrals for DUIs with the first quarter of 2014 having approximately 13 fewer than the first quarter of 2011. "ADAPT will be hosting a variety of events throughout the year to raise awareness about substance use, such as April's free screening," said Asmare. "We will also continue to offer briefings to first-term Airmen, individual squadrons and host events during Wingman Week."