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Programs increase alcohol awareness

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Janelle Patiño
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Since 1987, April has been recognized as Alcohol Awareness Month increasing public awareness and understanding of the negative effects of alcohol users while encouraging communities to focus on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues.

Grabbing a beer after work, meeting friends for a drink or sipping a glass of wine for dinner may be enjoyable moments for most people. However, over-excessive consumption can lead to trouble.

"People often wonder where to draw the line with their drinking and how to tell if their drinking is a problem they need to address," said Staff Sgt. Kassi Roquemore, a certified Alcohol Drug Counselor here. "Fortunately, there is a screening tool available to service members, veterans and their families that will help determine if someone has an alcohol problem."

The Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Clinic encourage service members, veterans and their families to take a free, anonymous alcohol-use self-assessment available at www.DrinkingIQ.org.

Here is a list of some important alcohol warning signs to watch for:
- Neglecting major work or family responsibilities
- Missing work, poor performance reviews and/or disciplinary actions
- Getting drunk regularly
- Lying about how much he/she is drinking
- Believing that alcohol is necessary to have fun
- Having frequent hangovers
- Having blackouts
- Getting in trouble with the law because of drinking
- Changing moods, such as temper flare-ups, irritability or defensiveness

Over the past month, Team Fairchild's ADAPT Clinic set up information tables every Wednesday and gave away items like water bottles, while having Airmen complete anonymous surveys indicating whether their drinking was hazardous or not.

"We have two more events coming up for the last few weeks of April," Roquemore said. "We will have our table at the Exchange on April 23 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and the Fitness Center on April 30 from 3:30 - 5 p.m."

Lastly, some tips for cutting back are by setting limits and sticking to them, keeping alcohol out of the home, drinking slowly on a full stomach, sticking to one drink per hour or less, taking regular breaks from drinking, learning how to say no, staying active and finding other interests and getting support from family and friends.

According to Col. Brian Newberry, the 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, this is where the wingman concept also applies. A famous World War I strategist said no plane survives contact with the enemy. The same can be said of alcohol misuse.

"No plan 'to get safely home' will survive contact with alcohol...the only solution is sober wingmen who will ensure the plan to make it home safe remains intact," Newberry said. "In the air, Wingmen ensure victory; on the ground, wingmen are just as important to our safety as we all promote a culture of responsible alcohol use."

For more information, visit or call the ADAPT Clinic at (509) 247-2731.