MCB HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- As a prosecutor on MCB Hawaii for two years, I have seen a myriad of crimes caused by drinking and drugs. The vast majority of Marines, Sailors and civilians are obviously good and law abiding, and they always do the right thing to help their fellow service and family members. Drugs and alcohol have a serious impact on judgment, though, and many crimes are caused by good service members who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.Drugs and alcohol are to blame for these lapses, and it is easy to blame them for criminal acts and the harm they cause: both for the service member and those around him or her. Alcohol and drugs, however, do not just appear in the blood. The decision to take them is usually a sober one. That sober decision, before the first sip of beer on Friday night, can lead to later criminal harm. That sober decision is an important one, because all too often it leads to a life-changing event. By life changing, I mean both life changing for the service member who commits the crime, and for the victims and families the service member impacts. Of the more than 100 courts-martial and administrative separation boards I have prosecuted, over 90 percent of them dealt with alcohol or drugs, directly or indirectly. The most obvious cases are positive urinalyses, which destroy the service member's military career and gives him or her a criminal record. Drugs and alcohol also affect behavior, which leads to further poor decisions. Drinking and driving is a well-known example of this. Other, less obvious crimes are also products of drinking such as assaults, disorderly conduct and sex assault. Alcohol and drugs lower inhibitions and awareness, and they distort reality. Just because inhibitions are lowered, though, does not mean this behavior is tolerated. The law does not make exceptions.The lifestyle associated with drinking and drugs also leads to a large number of thefts in the barracks. Young Marines and Sailors spend much of their pay in Waikiki, and sometimes their pay is not enough toward the end of the month. Too often, I have seen cases where a young service member steals money and checks from his barracks so he can go out and party. But the Marine or Sailor convinces himself, "it is only for drinks," and "I'll pay it back when I get paid." Of course it never is paid back, except after they are court-martialed and sent to the brig. Theft severely impacts both the integrity of the unit and the individual service member whose money was stolen.By the way, underage drinking is a violation of a general order, and it's therefore a felony offense. Underage drinking leads to other problems with violence and health, and it should not be tolerated. Recently, a Marine was sent to the brig for seven days for underage drinking at BayFest. It is the duty of noncommissioned officers in the barracks to police this problem and make sure young Marines know what to do. Not reporting underage drinking is also a crime, and this leads to a false sense that underage drinking is tolerated.The key to avoiding problems is to be responsible and make the right choice. Right now, the Marine Corps and Navy need you to be responsible and to be ready for war. Do not put yourself in a position where you are out of control. When you drink too much, you are out of control. When you hang out with civilians who smoke crystal meth, you are out of control. When you go to rave parties and take ecstasy, you are out of control. It will not be fun when you are caught and sent to prison. Again, your fellow Marines and Sailors need you to be in control and ready for combat. Stay in control by staying sober.