R 110700Z APR 01
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//M&RA//
TO MARADMIN
BT
UNCLAS
MARADMIN 176/01
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC MRS//
SUBJ/APRIL 2001 HEALTH PROMOTION MESSAGE//
POC/CATHERINE FICADENTI/NAF/MR/MRS/TEL:(703)784-9542/TEL:DSN 278-9542
/TEL:FAX (703)784-9822//
RMKS/1. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FY 2001 NATIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION
CENTER, THE HQMC MONTHLY HEALTH PROMOTION MESSAGE THEME FOR APRIL
2001 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS PREVENTION OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED
DISEASES (STD'S), TO INCLUDE HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV).
THE INTENT OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE PREVENTION OF STD'S
AND THE ROLE ALCOHOL ABUSE PLAYS IN ITS PREVALENCE.
2. AN INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE (IOM) REPORT CHARACTERIZED STD'S AS,
"HIDDEN EPIDEMICS OF TREMENDOUS HEALTH AND ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCE IN
THE UNITED STATES," AND STATED "STD'S REPRESENT A GROWING THREAT TO
THE NATION'S HEALTH."
3. WORLDWIDE, AN ESTIMATED 333 MILLION CASES OF CURABLE STD'S OCCUR
ANNUALLY. STD'S ACCOUNT FOR 87 PERCENT OF THE TOP TEN INFECTIONS
MOST FREQUENTLY REPORTED TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND
PREVENTION (CDC). EACH YEAR 15 MILLION NEW STD INFECTIONS OCCUR IN
THE UNITED STATES. THE COSTS TO THE NATION IS ESTIMATED TO BE $17
BILLION ANNUALLY.
4. ACCORDING TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES, THERE IS A STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN STD INFECTION AND
SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ESPECIALLY THE ABUSE OF ALCOHOL.
A. THE ABUSE OF ALCOHOL CAN DRASTICALLY ALTER SEXUAL BEHAVIOR,
AND LEAD TO THE SPREAD OF STD'S.
B. ALCOHOL MAY AFFECT AN INDIVIDUAL'S COGNITIVE AND NEGOTIATING
SKILLS BEFORE AND DURING SEX, LOWERING THE LIKELIHOOD THAT PROTECTION
AGAINST STD TRANSMISSION AND PREGNANCY WILL BE USED.
5. MILITARY PERSONNEL ARE A POPULATION GROUP AT SPECIAL RISK OF
EXPOSURE TO STD'S. THIS RISK IS GENERALLY 2 TO 5 TIMES HIGHER THAN
IN CIVILIAN POPULATIONS. THE YOUNG, UNATTACHED MAN IS HIGHLY
SUSCEPTIBLE TO STD'S DUE TO AVAILABLE TIME, MOTIVATION, AND INFLUENCE
FROM PEERS TO INDULGE IN HIGH RISK BEHAVIOR. USING ALCOHOL TO COPE
WITH STRESS CAN INCREASE THE INCIDENCE OF RISKY BEHAVIOR EVEN MORE.
6. NEW STD'S ARE EMERGING AND EXISTING ONES ARE BECOMING RESISTANT
TO CURRENT TREATMENTS. IN HAWAII, WHERE ONE-THIRD OF ALL REPORTED
CASES OF GONORRHEA COME FROM THE ACTIVE DUTY POPULATION, ARMY HEALTH
OFFICIALS RECENTLY REPORTED SEVERAL CASES OF STD'S NOT RESPONDING TO
TREATMENT.
7. WHILE MOST STD'S ARE TREATABLE, HIV IS LIFE-THREATENING AND
DIRECTLY IMPACTS UNIT READINESS. HIV-INFECTED SERVICE MEMBERS ARE
NO LONGER DEPLOYABLE.
8. ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC), PREVENTION IS
THE MOST IMPORTANT STRATEGY FOR CONTROLLING THE SPREAD OF STD'S.
A. THE SUREST WAY TO AVOID THESE DISEASES IS TO NOT HAVE SEX
(ABSTINENCE).
B. ANOTHER WAY IS TO LIMIT SEX TO ONE PARTNER WHO ALSO LIMITS
HIS/HER SEX IN THE SAME WAY (MONOGAMY).
C. ANYONE WHO IS SEXUALLY ACTIVE OUTSIDE A MONOGAMOUS
RELATIONSHIP SHOULD CARRY AND USE CONDOMS. THE 1998 DOD SURVEY OF
HEALTH RELATED BEHAVIORS AMONG MILITARY PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT 42
PERCENT OF SERVICE MEMBERS USED A CONDOM DURING THEIR LAST SEXUAL
ENCOUNTER. LEARN TO TALK WITH YOUR PARTNER ABOUT CONDOM USE.
D. AVOID MIXING ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS WITH SEXUAL ACTIVITIES.
E. SPERMICIDES DO NOT REPLACE CONDOMS.
9. EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO COMMANDS THROUGH THEIR
MCCS SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING CENTERS, THE SEMPER FIT HEALTH
PROMOTION OFFICE, AND LOCAL NAVY MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITIES.
INFORMATION/EDUCATIONAL CLASSES ON HIV/STD TRANSMISSION PREVENTION
ARE ALSO AVAILABLE THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NAVY ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH CENTER (NEHC). NEHC IS THE PARENT COMMAND OF THE SEXUAL
HEALTH AND RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM (SHARP). FOR INFORMATION GEARED
SPECIFICALLY FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL, COMMANDS AND SEMPER FIT
OFFICERS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO VISIT THE SHARP WEB SITE AT
HTTP://WWW-NEHC.MED.NAVY.MIL.
10. ENHANCING OUR READINESS FOR THE CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY
REQUIRES THAT ALL MARINES, MALE AND FEMALE, BE PROACTIVE IN
ENHANCING HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND REDUCING HEALTH DISTRACTORS FOR A
FIT AND READY FORCE.//
BT