TriWest -- "One more won't hurt me."
"I can drive home fine."
"I only drink on the weekends."
"I don't drink as much as everyone else."

These are statements people sometimes use to justify their excessive drinking. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), roughly 14 million American adults abuse alcohol, whether as habitual drinkers or less-frequent binge drinkers.

Excessive alcohol consumption, whether over a short period or long period of time, increases the chance for accidental injury and death, and may cause an increased chance for health problems such as heart disease, liver disease and stroke.

Why do people drink excessively?
For most adults, moderate drinking (up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women) causes few, if any, problems. Some situations, however, constitute no safe amount of alcohol: while pregnant, when driving, while under 21 years of age, or when taking certain medications.

Many who turn to excessive drinking do so to help relieve anxiety or stress, including combat stress. A report from the NIAAA indicates, "after a traumatic event, people often report using alcohol to relieve their symptoms of anxiety, irritability, and depression."

A person can give many excuses for drinking excessively. For example, job stress, relationship problems or experiencing the death of a friend or family member. Sometimes people drink excessively due to social factors, such as peer pressure or having the need to "fit in." Alcoholism can be genetic and some people are, therefore, more prone to drinking because they had a mother or father, grandmother or grandfather with alcohol dependency.

Getting Help
Regardless of the reason, admitting to a drinking problem should not cause anyone to feel ashamed. In fact, facing the truth may help those who are either addicted to or dependent on alcohol begin down the path to recovery. Often, people are reluctant to seek treatment for their drinking problems, thinking they can handle it on their own. Unfortunately, without treatment the problem can escalate quickly, resulting in severe legal, social or physical consequences. The sooner treatment is sought, the better the chances are of limiting long-term consequences.

How Can You Tell If Someone Has a Drinking Problem?
According to the NIAAA, answering the following four questions can help you identify a drinking problem in yourself or a loved one:

1. Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
2. Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
3. Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
4. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, please discuss your concerns with a health care provider right away.

Treatment Options
There are several options for those seeking treatment for alcohol dependence or abuse. Discuss all the treatment options with your primary care manager (PCM) or another trusted physician.

TRICARE will cover certain treatments for substance abuse. To use your TRICARE coverage, active duty Service members must access all care through their PCM. Active duty family members with TRICARE Prime have coverage for up to eight group therapy visits with a referral from their PCM. Continuing therapy after the eighth visit will require a request from your PCM and authorization from TriWest. Certain other inpatient or other treatments will require a referral and prior authorization.

Any applicable co-pays or cost-shares (based on the sponsor's status and TRICARE program) will apply. Utilize network providers for the least out-of-pocket costs. You can see specific coverage and limitations by filling out a profile at www.tricare.mil/mybenefit. Choose the "Mental Health and Behavior" tab, follow the link for "Types of Treatment" and then "Treatment for Substance Use Disorders" on the left-side menu.

TriWest also offers a TRICARE Behavioral Health Provider Locator and Appointment Assistance Service at 1-866-651-4970 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) to help TRICARE Prime active duty Service members and their families locate a local provider and make an appointment.

Call 1-888-TRIWEST (1-888-874-9378) for a TRICARE-authorized provider.