USS WASP, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard USS Wasp (LHD 1) now have a better opportunity to learn about and seek help with alcohol-related matters with the addition of four assistants to the ship's Drug and Alcohol Program Advisor (DAPA).
"This command is so large that a single command DAPA wouldn't be able to keep up with the tempo of the needs of Sailors," said Chief Information Systems Technician (SW/AW) Gary Stevenson, DAPA coordinator. "Having these qualified assistants allows this program to reach many more Sailors."
According to the program's governing instruction OPNAVINST 5350.4D, DAPAs serve as the command's primary advisors for alcohol and drug matters. DAPAs report directly to the commanding officer, and manage the command's Substance Abuse Prevention Program. They conduct administrative screenings, prepare applicable reports, provide prevention education, and monitor aftercare.
"DAPA is a good program, and it gets a lot of Sailors who need help with drinking free assistance that's not available in the civilian sector," said Stevenson. "But that person has to want to get help. DAPA provides an avenue to get the help they need."
One of the goals of the DAPA Program is to reach Sailors who may have a drinking problem before the drinking problem impacts them, their career, and the command. Sailors have the opportunity to become involved in the program through self-referrals to any one of five trusted agents: either of the doctors on board, through the chaplain, through the commanding officer, through Fleet and Family Services, or by directing one of the command DAPA personnel.
"Self referrals are designed to give Sailors a positive way to deal with what can be a debilitating situation, or even a disease," said Ship's Serviceman 1st Class (SW/AW) Angela Zamora, assistant DAPA "We want to provide an atmosphere that will make Sailors feel comfortable to refer themselves, because after there's an alcohol-related incident, it's too late."
A Sailor who may have a problem can be treated through the Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program (SARP), which offers a variety of programs to help break dependency. Following successful treatment, Sailors return to their commands and the DAPAs help them maintain an aftercare plan. The aftercare ensures that positive behaviors taught at SARP are implemented into the Sailors' daily lives.
Privacy concerns for Sailors who refer themselves or are referred is paramount. Screenings are conducted in private and confidentiality is maintained throughout the process, however long the treatment or aftercare may continue.
"If a Sailor is going to have the fortitude and honesty to refer themselves, then it's not just command policy to maintain their privacy, it becomes a common courtesy and respect issue," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) 1st Class John Quillin, assistant DAPA. "We want the program to be approachable. We can't help people if they're staying away because they're worried about the consequences."
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