The U.S. Army Center for Substance Abuse Programs (ACSAP) is the Army's lead agency for substance abuse prevention, education, and training, providing operational supervision, direction, monitorship, evaluation, oversight, and policy development for all elements of the Army Drug and Alcohol Prevention and Control Program (ADAPCP). The ADAPCP serves almost two million Army personnel assigned to over 150 installations and reserve commands worldwide and has expertise in Army, military, and military family needs as they pertain to alcohol and other drug prevention.

The U.S. Army, in support of Army values for mission readiness, upholds the nationwide stand against impaired driving with zero tolerance for youth alcohol efforts to reinforce the message that drinking and driving is unacceptable. Special projects, in coordination with the Office of the Chief of Staff, have included production of a safety video for National 3D Prevention Month 1996, and a "Be Smart" impaired driving prevention poster in 1997 for distribution to Army posts around the world.

Since 1982, Army installations worldwide have supported National 3D Prevention Month Activities as part of the annual nationwide public information campaign against impaired driving during the holiday season, and through on-going, year-round prevention efforts. These activities include:

• Information distribution, including flyers, pamphlets, posters, and 3D prevention artwork to agencies throughout the installation community;
• Weekly info-grams via e-mail to post agencies providing information about avoiding driving while impaired and alcohol-free beverage recipes for holiday parties;
• Use of local media including 3D prevention bumper stickers, articles in the installation and civilian community newspapers, and decorated office, unit, and post bulletin boards;
• Prevention displays throughout the post, including community recreation centers, post exchanges, and commissaries;
• DWI checkpoints on post and off post, in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies;
• New Year's Eve safe ride programs offered by post organizations, such as Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) or a Safety Cabs program offered by local communities for the entire holiday season;
• Military Police-operated "rollover convincers" showing how drivers and passengers get hurt in a crash; also, crashed cars and simulated crash and response enactments;
• Information shows on post television and radio stations, including prevention videos, talk chorus, and "Commander's Hour";
• 3D prevention "Tip of the Day" broadcast during morning and afternoon drive time on post and civilian radio stations during the month of December;
• Specifically targeted local programs organized through the Installation Prevention Team;
• Publishing a post prevention calendar with daily and weekly installation events;
• Distribution of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Red Ribbons at high-traffic areas on post;
• Kick off event at the post club with guest speakers and local dignitaries;
• Incentives and give-aways for increasing awareness offered at on-post schools, clubs, and exchanges; and
• 3D Prevention Month Proclamation signed by installation commander.

Successful Alcohol and Impaired Driving Programs
Three Military Posts Take A Stand
At Fort Benning, Georgia, the ADAPCP joined forces with the Infantry Branch Safety Office (IBSO) and organized "Loaded 45," a driving and weapons safety program for the 45 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

At Fort Ritchie, Maryland, the ADAPCP organized its annual kickoff "Lunch and Learn" program, which invited military personnel and area residents to a luncheon that featured anti-drunk and drugged driving presentations by crash victims and community experts.

At Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the ADAPCP conducted a saturation campaign to educate the community about the issues surrounding impaired driving. This included designing and distributing 3D prevention bumper stickers, banners, and posters; assembling substance abuse prevention displays in high-visibility post locations; and establishing sobriety checkpoints on post and in cooperation with the state's "Booze It and Loose It" program.

For additional information, contact Mallary Tytel, Ph.D., U.S. Army Center for Substance Abuse Programs, 4501 Ford Avenue, Suite 320, Alexandria, VA 22302, phone: (703) 681-5583.