Some Returning Veterans are at Higher Risk for Alcoholism
September 9, 2008
By Ginny Estupinian
In my last post I discussed s few studies that identified the increase in post traumatic stress disorder as a direct result of the amount of exposure to combat zones. Now another study is showing that abuse of alcohol is also an accompanying problem that increases with exposure to combat zones.
In this study on alcohol abuse, returning service members who has seen combat were 63% more likely to experience excess drinking and binge drinking than those individuals who were in non-combat zones. To put this in prospective, the CDC defines excess drinking as more than two drinks daily for men and one drink a day for women .
As was reported in my previous post the studies here also showed that the incidence rate for Reserve or National Guard members are higher compared to members in other military branches.
A separate study on excess alcohol intake lists additional dangers to abusing alcohol as including a greater chance of developing metabolic syndrome, which includes obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
The researchers suggested that returning soldiers often use alcohol as a coping mechanism to help them deal with stress and depression . The researchers went on to suggest that one way to help these returning soldiers is to provide them with a familiar and supportive network of trusted family, friends, or fellow veterans. The idea is to provide other places to meet rather than at a bar.
As the studies have shown the best support comes from fellow veterans who have had similar experiences.
By Ginny Estupinian
In a recent meeting of the American Psychological Association in Boston, various reports were presented that clearly showed the correlation between the amount of time soldiers spend in combat and the subsequent development of symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder and depression. Although on first blush this may appear to be obvious what is different is that these studies looked at the increase in mental health problems specific to the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
One report showed that in a typical unit headed to Iraq, 60% were on their second, third or fourth tour of duty. Each of these tours usually last about a year in duration and as the amount of tours increase the potential risk for developing mental health issues increases. The office of the U.S. Army Surgeon General stated that in their observations, by their third tour more than a quarter of the soldiers begin to show signs of mental health problems.
In another report funded by the Pentagon and produced by RTI International, found that in a survey of 34,000 active duty troops, (made up of reservists, and National Guard members deployed ) reservists had the highest rates of traumatic stress symptoms and of “seriously” considering suicide.
This report was further supported by a Veterans Affairs Analyses that showed that there were 115 Amy suicides and 935 reported attempts in 2007. The report showed that National Guard and reservists sent to Iraq and Afghanistan made up the majority of the returning veteran suicides. Sadly, this is a new record high.
The National Veterans Foundation which runs a crises hotline reported that about 75%of the 400 calls a week come from reserve and national Guard troops or their families.
Although these studies and reports are important we must remember that it is not just the stress that comes from combat that is affecting these soldiers. In many cases it is also the stress that comes from the current economic conditions. At times these mental health challenges fall on top of other serious economic problem that many families are struggling with.
