Military Substance Abuse Disorders
A War on Home Soil for Veterans and Military with Substance Abuse Disorders
Over 1 Million Veterans Need Help
1.1 million veterans are struggling with substance abuse disorders. Many are struggling with addiction to both pain pills and alcohol. The addiction to pain pills can start with a prescription following a surgery. This type of prescribing process is similar for military personnel and often begins with an opioid medication following an injury during deployments.
Of the 1.1 million veterans living with a substance disorder, 25% have struggled with illicit drugs, while 80% struggled with alcohol abuse. About 7% of the 1.1 million veterans struggle with both. Veterans aren’t the only military population impacted by substance abuse, active military members are as well.
In the active-duty military substance abuse occurs, but with different dynamics. The actual numbers of military members living with a substance use disorder could be more than reported. Currently, reports indicate that 5.4% of all military personnel are heavy drinkers while 1% across all branches are currently abusing illicit drugs. Approximately 4% of active-duty service members reported misusing one or more prescription drug types.
What is clear is the historical problem of veteran and military alcohol abuse, illicit drugs, and tobacco use. Heavy drinking has been an accepted practice for a long time and is synonymous with the military work culture.
Drinking has been used for recreation as well as to reward members’ hard work. Aside from those instances, drinking is used to ease relationship tensions, but also to promote camaraderie. The encouragement of these activities is perceived as innocent but can play into substance abuse patterns.