What process should be followed if a unit commander suspects a soldier of alcohol and/or other drug abuse?
If a unit commander suspects a soldier of alcohol and/or other drug abuse (e.g. the chain of command has noticed unusual or aberrant behavior by the soldier), the commander should counsel the soldier and determine whether professional evaluation by ASAP clinical personnel is appropriate or if the soldier should simply be returned to duty. If clinical evaluation is deemed appropriate, the unit commander will refer the soldier to the ASAP clinic. If treatment is warranted the clinic will perform a bio-psychosocial assessment, and in conjunction with the unit commander, form a rehabilitation team to determine a treatment plan. (Note: MTF commander has final authority on the treatment plan, not the unit commander. If the unit commander disagrees with the treatment decision, the first Colonel in the soldier’s chain of command may be called upon to intercede with the MTF commander.) At this point the unit commander must evaluate the entire record of the soldier (e.g.
