The U.S. military’s health management system has created a Web site to help patients curb alcohol abuse and to highlight April as alcohol awareness month.

The Web page, www.tricare.mil/alcoholawareness, provides users with statistical information on alcohol consumption and links to aids such as treatment for substance abuse, stopping alcohol abuse and preventing problems with college drinking, according to a Tricare press release.

Heavy alcohol consumption is a significant problem in the military that impacts active-duty personnel and their families.

The 2005 Department of Defense — Health Affairs Survey on Health-Related Behaviors Among Active-Duty Personnel reports young men in each service branch had significantly higher rates of heavy drinking than their civilian counterparts, according to the release. Of young men in all military branches, 32.2 percent engaged in heavy drinking, compared with 17.8 percent of civilian men.

The page is a starting place for those wishing to tackle drinking problems. It also refers users to a DOD-funded site, www.thatguy.com, which highlights the social consequences of binge drinking.

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