Air Force Drug & Alcohol Abuse Program
The commander or first sergeant and the supervisor must be involved at program entry, termination, and anytime there are significant treatment difficulties with the patient. The primary objective of the TT is to guide the clinical course of the patient?s treatment after examining all the facts. The TT consists of the commander, supervisor, member?s counselor, medical consultants, other appropriate helping agencies, and the member.
The ADAPTPM, in consultation with the TT, makes a treatment decision within 15 duty days of the referral to the ADAPT office.
The central purpose of the SA assessment is to determine the patient?s need for treatment and level of care required. ADAPT staff members conduct the SA assessment within 7 duty days of notification. ADAPT program managers conduct required reviews of the patient?s medical records and all documentation provided by the SA staff on a priority basis. Information gathered during the assessment will form the basis for patient diagnosis, treatment planning, and delivery of SA services. The ADAPT Program is divided into two services?nonclinical and clinical.
Nonclinical Services. Nonclinical services are reserved for individuals who have demonstrated improper and irresponsible use of substances but do not meet the diagnostic criteria for abuse or dependence and do not require treatment. Individuals are provided a minimum of 6 hours of SA awareness education that focuses on individual responsibility, Air Force standards, the legal and administrative consequences of SA, values clarification, impact of SA on self and others, family dynamics, and goal setting.
Additional counseling or educational services may be provided to the individual based on issues identified during the initial assessment. The length of involvement is determined by the intensity of services required and an agreed-upon behavioral contract.
Clinical Services. Clinical services are required for members medically diagnosed as ?substance abuser? or ?dependent.? The level and intensity of care are determined by the ADAPTPM using a structured patient placement criteria developed by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. The Air Force?s philosophy is to place personnel with SA problems in the least intensive or restrictive treatment environment possible appropriate to their therapeutic needs.
Depending on the member?s needs, variable lengths of stay or duration of treatment are provided within an array of treatment settings. For example, individuals may be placed in short-term outpatient or intensive outpatient programs at their local base, referred to a partial hospitalization program, or entered into an inpatient residential treatment program with a variable length of stay. Regardless of the level or intensity of care, programs are individually tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual.
Local programs are designed to ensure the individual acquires and applies an understanding of the disease of alcoholism, communication, coping skills, and mechanisms for establishing goals that reinforce an alcohol-free lifestyle. Abstinence from alcohol is required while in the initial treatment phase of ADAPT. The ADAPT staff will evaluate any members who have problems abstaining from alcohol to determine appropriate intervention and, if necessary, change the treatment plan to help them meet their goals and return to full duty status.
Inpatient residential treatment is designed to provide individuals with more chronic SA problems the care they need. Due to the ever-changing healthcare system, the Air Force no longer has inpatient residential treatment programs. The ADAPT staff at each base will coordinate with the local TRICARE Service Center to arrange treatment for those members requiring inpatient residential treatment at a local civilian facility or with another military medical treatment facility (MTF). Upon completion of residential or nonresidential treatment, the member normally enters the aftercare phase.
Aftercare ensures the member continues with elements of his or her recovery plan to facilitate continued recovery. During this phase of treatment, members demonstrate their ability to meet Air Force standards and develop the skills and resources to maintain a substance-free lifestyle. The ADAPT staff designs individualized aftercare plans of continued support with at least monthly monitoring. To enter the aftercare phase, the individual must develop and sign a contract outlining aftercare activities. Normally, individuals remain in aftercare for 6 months to 1 year after the date of entry into the ADAPT Program. Changes in responsibilities or duties do not eliminate the requirement for continued followup and communication between losing and gaining commanders and supervisors. The TT evaluates the individual?s progress quarterly and keeps the commander informed.
The ADAPTPM, in consultation with the TT, makes a treatment decision within 15 duty days of the referral to the ADAPT office.
SA Assessment
The central purpose of the SA assessment is to determine the patient?s need for treatment and level of care required. ADAPT staff members conduct the SA assessment within 7 duty days of notification. ADAPT program managers conduct required reviews of the patient?s medical records and all documentation provided by the SA staff on a priority basis. Information gathered during the assessment will form the basis for patient diagnosis, treatment planning, and delivery of SA services. The ADAPT Program is divided into two services?nonclinical and clinical.
Nonclinical Services. Nonclinical services are reserved for individuals who have demonstrated improper and irresponsible use of substances but do not meet the diagnostic criteria for abuse or dependence and do not require treatment. Individuals are provided a minimum of 6 hours of SA awareness education that focuses on individual responsibility, Air Force standards, the legal and administrative consequences of SA, values clarification, impact of SA on self and others, family dynamics, and goal setting.
Additional counseling or educational services may be provided to the individual based on issues identified during the initial assessment. The length of involvement is determined by the intensity of services required and an agreed-upon behavioral contract.
Clinical Services. Clinical services are required for members medically diagnosed as ?substance abuser? or ?dependent.? The level and intensity of care are determined by the ADAPTPM using a structured patient placement criteria developed by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. The Air Force?s philosophy is to place personnel with SA problems in the least intensive or restrictive treatment environment possible appropriate to their therapeutic needs.
Depending on the member?s needs, variable lengths of stay or duration of treatment are provided within an array of treatment settings. For example, individuals may be placed in short-term outpatient or intensive outpatient programs at their local base, referred to a partial hospitalization program, or entered into an inpatient residential treatment program with a variable length of stay. Regardless of the level or intensity of care, programs are individually tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual.
Local programs are designed to ensure the individual acquires and applies an understanding of the disease of alcoholism, communication, coping skills, and mechanisms for establishing goals that reinforce an alcohol-free lifestyle. Abstinence from alcohol is required while in the initial treatment phase of ADAPT. The ADAPT staff will evaluate any members who have problems abstaining from alcohol to determine appropriate intervention and, if necessary, change the treatment plan to help them meet their goals and return to full duty status.
Inpatient residential treatment is designed to provide individuals with more chronic SA problems the care they need. Due to the ever-changing healthcare system, the Air Force no longer has inpatient residential treatment programs. The ADAPT staff at each base will coordinate with the local TRICARE Service Center to arrange treatment for those members requiring inpatient residential treatment at a local civilian facility or with another military medical treatment facility (MTF). Upon completion of residential or nonresidential treatment, the member normally enters the aftercare phase.
Aftercare ensures the member continues with elements of his or her recovery plan to facilitate continued recovery. During this phase of treatment, members demonstrate their ability to meet Air Force standards and develop the skills and resources to maintain a substance-free lifestyle. The ADAPT staff designs individualized aftercare plans of continued support with at least monthly monitoring. To enter the aftercare phase, the individual must develop and sign a contract outlining aftercare activities. Normally, individuals remain in aftercare for 6 months to 1 year after the date of entry into the ADAPT Program. Changes in responsibilities or duties do not eliminate the requirement for continued followup and communication between losing and gaining commanders and supervisors. The TT evaluates the individual?s progress quarterly and keeps the commander informed.
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