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Alcohol abuse can create, deepen depression

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Connie L. Bias
  • 92nd ARW Public Affairs Office
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  More than 90 percent of people, youth and adult, who commit or attempt suicide share some common risk factors. The first preventable common risk factor is depression or other mental disorders. The other, also curable and preventable, is substance-abuse disorder, including alcohol.

Alcohol, a depressant, does nothing to help those who are already depressed. In fact, depressive symptoms can only get worse with the addition of alcohol, according to 1st Lt. Abraham Diaz, 92nd Medical Operations Squadron Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Treatment program manager. As an ADAPT representative, the lieutenant helps people both prevent and overcome alcohol dependency problems.

"After a person is referred to me, there's first a two-and-a-half hour assessment," said Lieutenant Diaz, adding that anyone who feels the need to be assessed can also self-ID themselves. "The assessment includes a series of questions to see how bad a person's drinking problems are, whether the drinking is affecting relationships and if the person has put themselves into harmful situations as a result of alcohol."

He also said some people come to the ADAPT program through a commander's referral when the commander believes alcohol is affecting an Airman's work performance.

While the ADAPT program doesn't deal specifically with depression resulting from such alcohol use (other base organizations, such as the Life Skills Center, get involved if a mental disorder is apparent), people like Lieutenant Diaz can help a person delete the depressive factor of alcohol from their lives. When a person at ADAPT is diagnosed as having an alcohol disorder, treatment begins immediately.

"Our treatment includes alcohol education and preventive measures, a treatment team if it's necessary, and intensive two-week outpatient treatment," said Lieutenant Diaz. "If the person needs hospitalization, we refer them to a civilian agency."

The lieutenant said the outpatient program especially stresses drinking alternatives, giving people an opportunity to fill their time with things other than alcohol. And the program is very effective, he said.

"About 80 percent of the people who come through our clinic are one-time offenders," he said. "For the most part, ADAPT measures have helped to prevent further alcohol-related incidents."

That's good news for the person suffering with alcohol issues, or unwittingly furthering their depressed state with alcohol. There's help right here on the base, and it works.

Anyone who feels a need to self-ID themselves as having a problem with alcohol can simply call ADAPT at 247-2731. The office is also available to give information about the program and alcohol abuse symptoms.

Information from the National Institute of Mental Health, www.nimh.nih.gov, was used in this story.

Editor's note: This story is the last article of a four-part series on suicide awareness. April is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. The Life Skills Center is offering a Suicide Awareness and Prevention briefing April 25 at 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the base theater.