R 210429Z SEP 12
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 527/12
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/MARINE CORPS EARLY INTERVENTION EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAMS//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/YMD:20110411//
AMPN/REF A IS MCO 5300.17, MARINE CORPS SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM//
POC/LUZ GONZALEZ/NF-04/UNIT:MFC4/-/TEL:(703)784-9526//
POC/NICOLE KIRVEN/NF-05/UNIT:MFC4/-/TEL:(703)784-9526//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  PURPOSE.  THIS MARADMIN ANNOUNCES FORTHCOMING CHANGES TO MCO 5300.17, INCORPORATING EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES.
2.  BACKGROUND.  THE NEED FOR EVIDENCE BASED INFORMATION PROVIDED TO OUR MARINES AS IT PERTAINS TO THE USE AND MISUSE OF ALCOHOL HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A NEED IN OUR CORPS.
3.  IT IS OUR MISSION TO LEAVE NO MARINE BEHIND.  AS IN FOREIGN LANDS AND IN GARRISON WE CONTINUE TO STRIVE TOWARD A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE.  WE ARE MORE THAN EAGER TO UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY AND STATE-OF-THE-ART TOOLS TO EQUIP OUR MARINES.
4.  EDUCATING OUR MARINES AFFORDS THEM THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO BE HEALTHY AND MAKE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS WHEN CHOOSING TO USE ALCOHOL. SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING CENTERS BUILT A TOOL KIT CONTAINING EARLY INTERVENTION EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS.  INCLUDED WITHIN THIS TOOL KIT IS "PRIME FOR LIFE" (PFL).  ACTIVE DUTY MARINES INVOLVED IN A DUI/DWI CITATION AND/OR ANY OTHER ALCOHOL-RELATED INCIDENTS MUST PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.  EMPLOYING AN INTERACTIVE APPROACH, THIS PROGRAM RELIES ON TEACHING PROCESSES DEVELOPED FROM RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICES IN THE ADDICTION FIELD THAT ALTER ATTITUDES, INCREASE RISK AWARENESS AND ABSTINENCE, AND REDUCE HIGH-RISK DRINKING.
  A.   PFL EQUIPS MARINES WITH THE ABILITY TO ASSESS HIGH-RISK BEHAVIORS AND INFLUENCE CHANGES IN ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS.  WE WILL EQUIP OUR MARINES WITH EFFECTIVE TOOLS TO PROMOTE READINESS WITHIN OUR RANKS.  ALCOHOL EDUCATION AFFORDS MARINES INVOLVED IN ALCOHOL-RELATED INCIDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EFFECTIVELY RECOGNIZE AND MITIGATE HIGH-RISK ACTIONS.
  B.  REFERENCE (A) SUPPORTS THESE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES, SUCH AS PFL, AS GUIDANCE FOR THE WAY AHEAD IN ATTACKING ALCOHOL ABUSE.  EACH INSTALLATION HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MODEL A PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE IN ENSURING THEIR PREVENTION SPECIALISTS AND/OR OTHER DESIGNATED PROFESSIONALS ARE TRAINED ON AND ARE IMPLEMENTING THESE NEW EVIDENCE-BASED TECHNIQUES.  IT IS PARAMOUNT THAT WE AS A FORCE OF READINESS BE EQUIPPED TO PROPERLY ADDRESS ALCOHOL AMONG OUR RANKS.
  C.  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND CAN BE OBTAINED THROUGH THE HEADQUARTERS SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM (MFC-4), (703) 784-9526.
5.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN R. F. HEDELUND, DIRECTOR, MARINE AND FAMILY PROGRAMS DIVISION.//