Commands are deferring alcohol treatment for troops in need: IG report
By Meghann Myers
Mar 14, 02:58 PM
Troops haven't been getting screened or referred for alcohol abuse treatment in a timely way, according to a Defense Department inspector general report. (Getty Images)
Troops who have been referred for alcohol abuse treatment are not getting the care they need because of command deferrals, according to a Defense Department inspector general report published Monday.
There were a few reasons for this, according to an audit. Some commanders thought the requirements for getting a service member into treatment were unclear; some treatment centers were understaffed or didn’t have enough spots; and some commanders put off getting their troops into treatment because of “operational requirements, legal actions, or other reasons.”
“According to the medical records we reviewed and unit leadership we interviewed, leadership encouraged service members to self‑refer instead of submitting a command referral following an alcohol‑related incident or suspected alcohol misuse,” DoD IG spokesman Megan Reed said in a statement.
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2022/03/14/commands-are-deferring-alcohol-treatment-for-troops-in-need-ig-report/
