It's no secret that drinking, smoking have always been part of military culture. In present-day however, health trends about our men and women in uniform are monitored and studied before, during and after conflicts.
A detected rise in alcohol abuse among troops should be of no surprise. Fatalities are proportionately lower while all types of disabilities are higher. Of these disabilities, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is prevalent throughout the ranks of veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. PTSD is a relatively new measurable in the scope of war history; it was really only identified in the latter parts of the Vietnam war, and as such, contributes to higher rates of vets seeking VA assistance in later wars as compared to pre-1975 conflicts. Hand in hand with service people diagnosed with PTSD are substance abuse problems. To this day, Vietnam vets fight the stigma of "drunk vet." Hollywood is notorious for depicting soldiers of the era as alcoholics or drug addicts - just look at the character Lt. Dan from Forrest Gump.
Into the nineties, the population of veterans and awareness of their needs had been on steady decline. That is until now...
With the US engaging enemies on two separate fronts, NOW is when the data is flowing again on PTSD and addiction issues. The major influx of combat-experienced young people back into general population has spurred new reports focused on the rising substance abuse trends these veterans are dealing with. The statistics are alarming enough that the Veterans Health Administration announced it is expanding the previously shrinking alcohol and drug abuse programs. In May of this year, the US House and Senate passed new bills demanding the administration expand all substance abuse treatment services.
What are the figures that are causing alarm? According to the Pentagon's "post deployment survey:"
-12% of active-duty personnel returning from Iraq suffer from alcohol problems
-15% of National Guard and Reserve personnel suffer from alcohol problems
-It is noted that combat veterans are 30% more likely to develop binge drinking habits than service people in non-hostile environments.
These percentages are absolutely alarming, considering the US keeps somewhere around 200,000 troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, with about 1.7 MILLION total who have been served in the region during the course of the recent wars. Furthermore, non-Pentagon estimates place the percent of veterans turning to drugs or alcohol at a higher rate of 20% of all troops seeing duty. 20% of 1.7 million equals 340,000 individuals and counting...
Another study conducted by the State of New Jersey on National Guard members returning from the Middle East found that 55% of soldiers diagnosed with PTSD experience "problem drinking." What's curious about this particular report is 41% of these soldiers received mental health treatment for their PTSD, while only 9% received substance abuse help.
Maybe the expansion of government addiction programs are aimed at closing these gaps and oversights... or maybe PTSD treatment is on the front burner, while alcoholism is pushed to the back... We hope not too far to the back though, because there are many young people returning home who have no idea the life they'll be facing if substance abuse is not properly identified and corrected. If a Veteran goes through a PTSD treatment program, but continues slipping into depression or towards coping mechanisms (such as alcohol), they no doubt need identified and given help.
VFW outposts in rural towns across America have long been known as places to reminisce and drink present-day problems away. Let us hope that one day they will be centers for remembering the good ol' days while enjoying healthy, active senior years.
Sourced articles/good reading: The New York Times "After the Battle, Fighting the Bottle at Home;" Reuters "Alcohol Abuse Rises Among US Combat Veterans"
Photo Credit: US Department of Defense
