"Military actions over the past 20 years have resulted in the unprecedented use of our National Guard, which have a presence in every U.S. state and territory. Oregon National Guard was the first to implement a specific, intense drug education program (ISTEP) for at risk Guard personnel. Through a very innovative collaboration Washington County seized the opportunity to integrate problem gambling education/intervention into that program. We found that troops received education on substance abuse, but not so much on gambling. Anecdotally, we discovered that gambling was relatively common among troops and, consequently, problems associated with it were there, too. It wasn’t being addressed until our collaboration. Not only did this result in a more comprehensive program, but it also offered connections to local resources that benefited troops, officers and administrators. Oregon’s program was highlighted at the 2009 National Guard Bureau Substance Abuse Conference in San Antonio.
This presentation will address our methods of collaboration, integration and implementation. We will discuss how to connect with local Guard personnel, and how gambling outreach can, and should, be included with existing outreach efforts, concerning substance abuse and addiction, among local military entities."