The award was presented at the Pentagon Hall of Heroes, Oct. 23, during Red Ribbon Week, a week designed to promote community drug awareness efforts by military services and defense agencies.

“Camp Pendleton has maintained less than one percent of positive drug tests in the last 10 years,” said Steven L. Butler, substance abuse prevention specialist, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. “We are doing better than any Marine Corps installation.”

Butler has been in charge of a base drug demand reduction campaign team since 2000. The campaign team has won several awards and is recognized throughout the Marine Corps for their positive effects on drug abuse.

The campaign team incorporates several notable programs.

One distinguished achievement of the team was their participation in the development of the “First to Fight” video game.  The game is designed as an entertaining way to educate service members about the affects of drugs in combat, utilizing five videos and several public service announcements.

One of the videos garnered a Headquarters Marine Corps video production award.

Another aspect of the drug demand reduction campaign is the team’s creation and utilization of a drug prevention plan. This plan is designed to maintain already established Marine Corps values and leadership principles.

The drug prevention members also help commands stay mission ready by offering to conduct urinalysis and drug abuse prevention education.

“The urinalysis is just an identifier to help our Marines and sailors, not a punisher,” said Butler.

The programs have been effective but drug awareness education really starts at the lowest ranks. The key group of Marines in the fight against drug abuse is noncommissioned officers, said Butler. They have the potential to make the most impact on their Marines and peers.

Butler and his team have set several goals for the upcoming year to help combat drug use. Two of the more important objectives are to raise awareness of alcohol and prescription drug abuse. Alcohol and prescription drugs are accepted substances in society, so most people don’t view it as a problem because they are legal, said Butler.

“We are not here to stop anything or eliminate anything, but to educate on the harms, affects and consequences usually associated with (the misuse of) a substance,” said Butler.

For more information about Camp Pendleton’s Drug Awareness Campaign contact Consolidated Substance Abuse Counseling Service at Bldg. 16105 or call (760) 725-5538.