26.6.6 Summary

Any injury or disease suffered by a member or ex-member of the ADF as a result of that member's consumption of alcohol or illicit drugs should in most cases be considered to be a result of a personal choice by the member. It follows that alcohol consumption can not be considered to have been reasonably required, expected or authorised by the ADF in order for the member to carry out his/her duties. Consequently, those claims generally are not to be accepted for compensation purposes. There are only two exceptions to this general policy:

• where the alcoholism or drug use is, on professional psychiatric advice, a recognised sequela of a compensable mental disease, and
• where alcohol or drug addiction as a recognised disease in itself is as a result of psychiatric trauma, a medical condition or an incident on service that is materially/significantly related to service.