Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) Site

Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP)

ASAP Training and Education

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PRIME For Life is an alcohol and drug program for people of all ages. It is designed to gently but powerfully challenge common beliefs and attitudes that directly contribute to high-risk alcohol and drug use. The program goals are to reduce the risk for health problems and impairment problems by:

A primary goal of PRIME For Life is prevention of any type of alcohol or drug problem. This includes prevention of health problems such as alcoholism, or impairment problems such as car crashes or fights. Emphasis is on knowing and understanding risks one cannot change and reducing risks one can change.

Many people who attend a PRIME For Life program already show signs of alcohol- or drug-related health or impairment problems. PRIME For Life is designed to effectively interrupt the progression of use with these audiences. PRIME For Life’s intervention component focuses on self-assessment to help people understand and accept the need for change. Intensive prevention services, counseling, or treatment may be necessary to support these changes. For those who already need treatment, the program serves as pre-treatment and support for abstinence.

Using a persuasion-based approach, instructors use a variety of delivery methods, including interactive presentation and small group discussion. Participants use work books throughout the course to complete a number of individual and group activities. Material is presented using a DVD platform with animation, full-motion video clips, and audio clips to enhance the learning experience.

Several themes run throughout PRIME For Life. The first is an emphasis on the reality that while all of us can influence another person's drinking choices to some degree, none of us can directly control those choices. Therefore, the program is designed to maximize the influence of helping professionals, instructors or family members.

Second, PRIME For Life is based on objective, documented research findings, not opinion, exaggerations or scare tactics. Credibility (of program and instructor/counselor) is a key factor in initiating and maintaining behavior change. Instructors are trained to master the program to maximize program impact.

Third, PRIME For Life focuses on information that is needed to bring about behavior change. In fact, a casual observer might conclude that the program places too little emphasis on process and that there is too much information for the typical participant to remember. Participants are not expected to remember the details of the research cited. The content is only one of the tools used in the persuasion process. What participants will remember are the critical conclusions that come from hearing the information: Who can experience alcohol or drug problems? How do I estimate biological risk? How do I know what low risk is and how far have my alcohol and drug choices progressed? They remember the information they can use, even if some do not use it right away. The carefully selected, research-based information also provides the credibility needed to promote change.

• Call 706-545-7027 or 706-545-8362 for specific training dates.
• Call 706-545-4565 to get information on attending the training

UNIT PREVENTION LEADER (UPL):

• The success of a drug-testing program is very dependent on the collection efforts in the units. The UPLs are responsible for the collection of samples and the ADCO is responsible for ensuring quality performance by the UPLs. Quality begins with the selection of the UPL. UPLs must successfully graduate from the 40-hour ASAP UPL Certification training course. All UPLs must be certified by the Fort Benning ADCO and provide a copy of Additional Duty Appointment orders.
• UPLs are responsible for the following:
  • Assists in briefing new personnel regarding ASAP policies and services.
  • Administers the unit drug-testing program.
  • Informs the commander of the status of the ASAP and of trends in substance abuse in the unit.
  • Maintains liaison with the servicing ASAP when deployed.
  • Develops, coordinates, and delivers informed prevention, education training to the unit.
• To attend the UPL Course on Fort Benning, a soldier must meet the following criteria:
  • o Unit Prevention Leader (UPL) should be of good character and possess sufficient skill, credibility, integrity, and maturity to carry out the highly sensitive duties as required by AR 600-85.
  • The soldier must be an E-5 or higher.
  • The soldier must have at least one-year retainability on Fort Benning.
  • The soldier has had a required records/background check. Attach completed form with request for training. No record of alcohol or other drug related incidents have been discovered that will have a negative impact on this assignment.
  • The soldier is on appointment orders appointing him/her as a unit UPL or Assistant UPL. Attach appointment orders with request for training.
  • The soldier has had an interview with his/her commander.
  • Call (706) 545-4565/5880 for specific training dates.

UNIT TRAINING:

• IAW AR 600-85, para 2-32-b all soldier will receive a minimum of four hours of alcohol and drug awareness training annually. This is the commander’s responsibility
• Training sessions for individual units can be arranged through the ASAP Prevention Coordinator @ 706-545-7027. If no ASAP staff member is available to conduct the training on the requested date, the unit's UPL(s) will be provided with the necessary training materials/resources for the class.
• Prepared classes are available by either checking out Public Folders under "ASAP" or by contacting the ASAP Prevention Coordinator at 706-545-7027. Classes include:
  • Alcohol, Power Point and Lesson Plan
  • Marijuana (THC), Power Point and Lesson Plan
  • Cocaine, Power Point and Lesson Plan
  • Amphetamines, Power Point and Lesson Plan
  • Rave Culture, Power Point and Lesson Plan
  • Inhalants, Power Point and Lesson Plan
  • Hallucinogens, Power Point and Lesson Plan
  • ASAP Overview, Power Point and Lesson Plan
  • GHB, Power Point and Lesson Plan
  • Methamphetamine, Power Point and Lesson Plan
• Upon completion of class, hand carry or fax the sign-in roster to ASAP @ 706-545-4071 or your unit will not get credit for completed training.

Question about prevention education can be sent to the PC at 706-545-7027.

Army Center for Substance Abuse Programs (ACSAP)