ABOUT ARMY SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM (ASAP) — FORT WAINWRIGHT
The Fort Wainwright Army post in Fairbanks, Alaska, offers an Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP). The outpatient program provides addiction education, evaluations, intervention, dual diagnosis treatment, and inpatient referrals in collaboration with the post’s behavioral health services. ASAP programs across the country include ones at Fort Hood in Texas and Fort Drum in New York.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Clients of the Army Substance Abuse Program at Fort Wainwright can self-refer or attend treatment as required by unit commanders, as reported in a March 2016 Daily News Miner story. A majority of soldiers in the Alaska ASAP struggle with addiction to alcohol. Prescription opiate and marijuana substance use disorders are also addressed. According to the Fort Wainwright website, appointments for initial assessments can be arranged online or by phone.
The facility evaluates and provides diagnoses as necessary, then coordinates the appropriate level of care. If residential treatment is necessary, clients are referred to an inpatient program at one of the Army’s medical centers or a civilian service. Referrals are also provided to an array of social services and community resources.
The Army post indicates that prevention is a priority of ASAP and November 2015 official Army communication reports that a pre-treatment-oriented Prime for Life course is offered for at-risk soldiers.
Shifts in organizational oversight for ASAP in process at the time of this writing are designed to reduce referrals outside the Fort Wainwright medical services and to improve care for clients who have received a diagnosis of PTSD or a traumatic brain injury along with a substance use disorder, August 2016 Army communications reported.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
There is currently no information provided by the facility regarding its treatment staff, however, the single individual polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing gave the facility five out of five stars for the Fort Wainwright Army Substance Abuse Program staff’s level of training and experience. An October 2015 USA Today story indicated that ASAP clinicians are certified in substance abuse rehabilitation.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The single former client of Fort Wainwright’s Army Substance Abuse Program polled by Best-rehabs.com at time of writing provided positive feedback. The reviewer indicated that they would recommend ASAP to others, awarding a maximum five-star rating for its dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring disorders and four stars each for the effectiveness of treatment and for counseling options. While the alum felt that the program’s length hindered the treatment effectiveness, they nonetheless lauded the employees and wrote that the program was a “Life changing experience” for them.
FINANCING
Clients access ASAP services via TRICARE, according to the Fort Wainwright website.