Substance Abuse and Veterans

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a substantial issue among this nation’s military veterans and they are linked to many damaging results.  Regardless of many attempts by the VA (Veterans Administration) and other agencies over the past decades to reduce problematic substance use, SUDs in veterans continue to rise.

One study of military personnel discovered that:

• 30% of completed suicides were linked to drug or alcohol abuse
• 20% of high-risk behavior deaths were associated with drug or alcohol overdose
• Among veterans going for first-time care in the VA system, 11% meet the standards for a diagnosis of SUD
• Alcohol and drug use disorder diagnoses are more common among male veterans

Why are Veterans More Susceptible to Substance Abuse?

There are several environmental stressors unique to military members that have been linked to an increased risk for the development of SUDs. For military personnel and veterans, these stressors include deployment, exposure to combat, and readjustment challenges after deployment.

The onset of SUDs can also develop subsequent to other mental health problems associated with these particular stressors, such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and depression.

In addition, previous interpersonal traumas (histories of physical or sexual abuse in childhood) have been shown to bring about the risk of developing SUD among veterans. Some people join the military to escape harmful home environments. Age is also a predictor of SUD prevalence–(higher rates of SUDs are associated with younger age).

Which Substances are Veterans More Likely to Use?

The 3 Most Common Mental Health Problems for Veterans

Things a veteran might have seen or experienced during their time in the military can affect long-term mental health, making it hard to transition to civilian life. The 3 most common mental health disturbances for veterans are:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder: This is a common disorder among veterans. Traumatic experiences like combat, disasters, assault, and sexual assault can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. A person experiencing PTSD will often avoid situations that trigger memories, making the transition to civilian life more difficult.
• Depressive disorder: This disorder is characterized by a low mood that lasts for more than a few days and commonly happens after traumatic events. It can affect your sleep, appetite, and desire to interact with others.
• TBI (traumatic brain injury): This is a common deployment-related injury. It occurs when the brain is hit by an outside source and causes brain functions to be temporarily impaired or changed.

How Common are Dual Diagnoses Among Veterans?

It’s rare for a veteran to suffer with only SUD. Many times, veterans with SUD also have co-occurring psychiatric conditions such as:

• PTSD
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Adjustment disorder

Among veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) diagnosed with SUD, 82% to 93% were also diagnosed with another co-occurring mental health disorder. Furthermore, more than 20% of veterans with PTSD also have SUD. Also, one-third of veterans getting treatment for SUD also have PTSD.

Veterans with a diagnosis of SUD were 3 to 4 times more likely to receive a diagnosis of depression or PTSD. In the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, approximately 10% of returning veterans seen in a VA have a problem with alcohol or other drugs. The number of veterans who smoke nicotine is nearly double for those with PTSD compared to those without PTSD.

War veterans with alcohol problems and PTSD tend to binge drink. (Binge drinking is drinking 4 to 5 drinks (or more) in a short amount of time (1 to 2 hours). The prevalence of dual diagnoses for OEF/OIF veterans mimics findings from studies on Vietnam-era veterans.

Treatment Options

No matter what you are experiencing, there are treatments available. Evidence shows that treating co-occurring substance use and mental disorders at the same time works most effectively when both conditions are treated.

Evidence-Based Therapies

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Using a problem-solving approach, CBT helps veterans with SUDs recognize their dysfunctional thinking patterns and helps them develop more balanced and helpful thoughts about themselves, other people, and the future.

Motivational Interviewing (MI): MI helps veterans focus on conversations with their therapist to recognize and strengthen personal motivations to change. It examines the reasons behind the desire to change.

Trauma Psychotherapy: This is the most effective treatment for PTSD, a leading cause of SUDs for veterans. Trauma-focused therapies use different approaches to help people deal with their traumatic experiences. They may include:

• Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

The most effective treatments for SUD include:

• CBT
• Relapse prevention training–Learning skills to recognize triggers and prevent relapse.
• Contingency Management (CM)–CM is a type of behavioral therapy in which people are “reinforced” with tangible rewards for evidence of positive behavior such as clean drug tests or attendance at meetings.

Pharmacotherapy (Medication)

In addition to behavioral treatment, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can play an essential part in treating and managing SUDs. SUD is a disease that needs treatment, medication, and counseling, just like any disease such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

Medications can be used to help reduce withdrawal symptoms that may be a trigger to relapse if not treated. They can also be useful in reducing cravings, which is also a strong trigger for increased substance use or relapse after treatment. These pharmaceutical options include medications that can prevent relapse, reduce cravings, and reduce the risk of death due to substance abuse.

Westwind Recovery® is On Your Side

Have you gone through the battle but now you’re losing the war with substance use? Is it someone close to you? It doesn’t have to be this way. Westwind Recovery® is a comprehensive rehab in Los Angeles, CA, with effective treatment programs for everyone who is serious about recovering and living their best life.

You understand teamwork, right? At Westwind Recovery®, you will have a recovery team dedicated to your success. Our addiction specialists can help you put together a strategy for recovery that treats your needs at the level you need. Among many other programs, we can offer:

• Supervised detox
• Dual diagnosis treatment
• Residential treatment
• Outpatient treatment
• Trauma therapy
• Behavioral therapies
• Adventure therapies
• Chronic pain management

You owe it to yourself, your family, and everyone who cares about you to explore what Westwind Recovery® can do for you. Contact us today to get started.