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Navy Launches $3.25 Million Online Recovery Support Program

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS101005-16
10/5/2010

From Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery announced the global launch of a new Web-based continuing care support system for military personnel, family members and retirees who are enrolled within the Navy Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation Services.

The new online program called Navy MORE (My Ongoing Recovery Experience) rolled out Aug. 20 and has more than 250 members using the program since it went online. While it is on line, it is only available to those enrolled in the program.

"The Navy MORE program will provide never-before-achieved continuity of care for military personnel, family members and retirees in early recovery from addiction anywhere in the world, at anytime," says Charlie Gould, Substance Abuse Programs for the Navy director. "This program shows our continued investment in keeping good Sailors in uniform and providing the care they need when they need it."

The online Navy MORE program – created in collaboration with Hazelden, one of the world's largest and most respected private, non-profit alcohol and drug addiction treatment centers – is a customized, interactive and confidential recovery tool.

It is available free-of-charge to military personnel, family members and retirees who are in the Navy Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation Services program in recovery anywhere in the world where Internet access is available.

During the next five years, the U.S. Navy will invest $3.25 million in the program, which will be accessible through the Department of Navy Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation Services to military personnel, family members and retirees who complete primary treatment for addiction to alcohol or other drugs.

According to Gould, every research study has shown that continuing care is directly related to improving substance abuse outcomes following treatment.

"The challenge for us has been having continued treatment for Sailors and their families who operate around the world," said Gould. "It's been difficult having those who have been receiving treatments stay in touch with a recovery counselor when they are in recovery on a Navy vessel halfway across the globe, or stationed at a Navy base in Asia, Europe or the Middle East.

"Our goal with Navy MORE is to use Web-based services that deeply integrate the changes needed to achieve lifelong success in recovery for addicted military personnel, family members and retirees throughout the U.S. Navy and other branches of the military served within the Navy Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation Services," said Gould.

The Navy MORE program is expected to provide post-treatment support to 1,000 patients a year during the first year of operations. Minnesota-based Hazelden has worked closely with the U.S. Navy for more than three years, including addiction-related training for more than 300 Navy and Marine Corpse substance abuse counselors, directors, social workers, psychologists and clergy from approximately 47 bases and seven shipboard sites in 20 states and seven foreign countries.

Through Navy MORE, military personnel, family members and retirees who are enrolled will have access to:

• A searchable online library of text and video on topics related to recovery, AA and other Twelve Step programs.
• Weekly online support groups facilitated by a licensed addiction counselor.
• Push messages directing patients in recovery to the next steps in their own program.
• Online fellowship tools to foster an atmosphere of support, enabling Navy MORE participants to interact with one another online.
• A Case Management Solutions home page where the Recovery Coach can manage information on how patients are doing.
• A 24/7 suicide prevention hot line with telephone numbers to call for service members and families when there is a suicide risk. In addition, a "Help Now" button links directly to clinically appropriate information that a program user can use in case they are considering suicide.

Navy MORE builds upon earlier substance abuse initiatives of the Navy. Approved by the Secretary of the Navy in 1995, the Navy's "Right Spirit Campaign" program was implemented to reduce alcohol abuse and deglamorize alcohol use – results include a reduction of incidents from 6,815 in 1996 to 4,164 in 2000, and with DWI arrests reduced from 1,795 to 920, during that same period.