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Z-Gram #115; dated 1 August 1972

Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism among Naval Personnel

R 011400Z AUG 72
FM CNO (Z-115)

TO NAVOP

UNCLASS//N05300//
ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM AMONG NAVAL PERSONNEL

A. SECNAVINST 5300.20 OF 18 MAY 72

1. BY REF A, SECNAV HAS FOCUSED ATTENTION ON A MATTER THAT MERITS NAVY-WIDE CONCERN, THAT OF THE SERIOUS PROBLEM OF ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM AMONG NAVAL PERSONNEL. I HAVE DIRECTED EXPANDED EFFORTS IN AREAS OF EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION.

2. THE NAVY DRUG & ALCOHOL ABUSE ADVISORY COUNCIL, CHAIRED BY CHNAVPERS, WILL PROVIDE OVERALL GUIDANCE IN IMPLEMENTING THE NAVY ALCOHOL ABUSE CONTROL PROGRAMS. INTERIM GUIDANCE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM PERS PC, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL. EDUCATION IN ALCOHOL ABUSE WILL BE AN ALL HANDS ENDEAVOR. KNOWLEDGE OF AND SUPPORT FOR OUR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL COMMAND, SUPERVISORY, AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL. THOUGH AN INDIVIDUAL MUST ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OBTAINING TREATMENT, COMMAND MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO GET THE ALCOHOLIC AND ALCOHOL ABUSER INTO A TREATMENT PROGRAM WHETHER THEY FIRST SEEK IT OR NOT.

3. I DO NOT DESIRE ANY RELAXATION IN THE STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR/PERFORMANCE/DISCIPLINE. WHERE DISCIPLINARY ACTION IS TAKEN, CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE JUDICIOUS USE OF SUSPENDED PUNISHMENT TO CHANNEL AN ALCOHOLIC INTO AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT PROGRAM. ALCOHOLISM BY ITSELF, HOWEVER, SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION.

4. FOR MANY YEARS THE ALCOHOLIC HAS BEEN STIGMATIZED, IGNORED OR “COVERED UP.” THE SUCCESS OF OUR EFFORTS HINGES LARGELY ON OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE RECOVERED ALCOHOLIC CAN BE A STABLE, PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF OUR NAVY, THEREBY ENCOURAGING THOSE WITH PROBLEMS TO SEEK HELP WITHOUT FEAR OF UNDUE CAREER JEOPARDY. THOSE RECOVERED ALCOHOLICS CURRENTLY SERVING ON ACTIVE DUTY CAN PROVIDE VALUABLE ASSISTANCE TO THE COMMANDS IN CARRYING OUT THIS PROGRAM.

5. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL HANDS TO FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH PROVISIONS AND POLICY CONTAINED IN REF A. TOGETHER WE CAN OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM WHICH ACTS AS A NEEDLESS DETRIMENT TO THE HEALTH AND EFFECTIVENESS OF MANY OF OUR BEST NAVY MEN AND WOMEN. E. R. ZUMWALT, JR., ADMIRAL, U.S. NAVY, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.

BT

__________

ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS:
CHNAVPERS: Chief of Naval Personnel
PERS PC: [unknown]
SECNAV: Secretary of the Navy
SECNAVINST: Secretary of the Navy Instruction

[END]
Published: Thu Jan 06 08:48:06 EST 2022