AFTERCARE POLICY Individuals who fail to make progress

AFTERCARE

POLICY • Individuals who fail to make progress, or who regress, should not automatically be considered a treatment failure. ü The individual’s plan (treatment or aftercare) should be reassessed by the SACC to determine if there is a need to modify the approach. • Individuals who refuse to participate in their plan, or who are determined by a LIP to have failed treatment, will be returned to their command. • Any Marine, who refuses, fails to participate, or does not successfully complete treatment/aftercare will be addressed at the command level.

ASSIGNMENT • The Commanding Officer will place Marines that complete treatment in an aftercare status for 12 months. ü The cognizant of SACC or the inpatient treatment facility will provide a written Aftercare Plan for Marines completing treatment. ü In order to meet individual needs, the Aftercare Plan will vary for each person. ü Marines who have attended treatment will be required to attend an individualized continuum of care at SACC on a weekly basis. • Aftercare services will be monitored by the SACO.

SACO DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • The unit SACO/ASACO will be responsible for monitoring Marines in the aftercare program and providing an accurate assessment of their progress to the Commanding Officer. • Aftercare requires close observation and mandatory completion of the individual Aftercare Plan and participation in self help groups (e. g. , AA, NA, etc. ). ü SACO will meet with Marines in aftercare at least biweekly.

SACO DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • A Marine diagnosed as with an alcohol use disorder who returns to the use of alcohol, while in an aftercare status, will be immediately counseled by his Commanding Officer and referred to the nearest SACC for reevaluation and recommendation. • Any Marine not diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder, who returns to the abuse of alcohol consumption will require immediate referral.

TIPS ON AFTERCARE • You are encouraged to meet weekly with your Marine. These meetings should be face to face and in a location that is private with minimal interruptions. ü The conversation should focus on how the Marine is doing and how their recovery is progressing. You are not a psychologist or therapist and you are not their AA sponsor. • Marines in aftercare should be required to get an AA sponsor and a home group. • You should provide an attendance sheet for them to have signed at the meetings they attend.

RELAPSE • Relapse is defined as the recurrence of symptoms of a disorder after a period of improvement. • Relapse is a multi-dimensional process that ends when the Marine picks up the first drink. It can occur at anytime in recovery from the tenth day to the tenth year.

RELAPSE PREVENTION • As stated, relapse is a process. SACO’s are often in a position to recognize and help the Marine reverse the process prior to their return to drinking. • Failing to meet with the SACO as scheduled is often one of the first signs. • If drinking has started document the event, inform the Marines CO and send for a re-screening at SACC.

SELF HELP • Most self-help groups as we know them today are: ü Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). ü Narcotics Anonymous (NA) ü Overeaters Anonymous (OA) ü Cocaine Anonymous (CA) ü The largest of these is Ala-non (Teens).

THE TWELVE STEPS • Bill Wilson (stockbroker) and Dr. Bob Smith founded AA in Akron, OH, in 1935. • From the beginning the philosophy was that alcoholics were able to help other alcoholics get and stay sober. The program is based on spiritual principles that are not based on any specific religion. It is designed to be a program for living with the twelve steps being the basis. • All other 12 step programs use the identical steps they just change the word alcohol in Step one to what ever their problem is.

AFTERCARE