Military Substance Abuse Prevention

The seven programs that administrators can consider adopting can be run in house or by contract with external agencies (Finn, N.P). According to Finn, this program will offer” professional counseling, peer support, or both, address chronic stress, serve family members, conduct academy or in-service training” (N.P). This evidence suggests that offering counseling to officers and their family members is imperative. Implementing a mandatory counseling session as part of officer’s yearly in house training would be a good initiative. This counseling session could take place in conjunction with officer’s yearly renewal of weapons qualification, first-aid training, and

The main problem discovered is military members are experiencing psychological problems from stressors due to deployments and not seeking help for their discomforts. Many of the military members returning

Substance abuse among our veterans is much greater than our civilian populations. This is largely caused by post-traumatic stress disorder, associated from combat, and who have endured multiple deployments. In most cases, veterans who have turned to alcohol or drugs have a dual diagnosis. They not only have a problem with alcohol or drugs, but they also suffer from a mental or mood disorder that has a major impact on these issues. In most cases the mood disorder is post-traumatic disorder(PTSD), which results from being in combat. According to

Alcohol use and abuse is prevalent among members of the United States military as well as among the veteran population. Binge and heavy drinking is commonplace among the military and veterans. Veterans and members of the active duty military face a unique set of challenges when compared to the civilian population. There is a trend of combat exposure leading to a higher risk to abuse alcohol. For over a decade the United States military was involved in combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). This has lead to a generation of service men and women as well as veterans with a host of physical and mental injuries as a result multiple combat deployments. There are many veterans and active duty personnel suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as traumatic brain injuries (TBI) as a result of their deployment in support of OIF and OEF. There is a link between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and a higher potential for the abuse of alcohol. Veterans and members of the armed forces deal with a host of psychological injuries related to the stresses of combat which can lead to the abuse of alcohol as a coping mechanism.

The United States Army has every corner covered for their substance abuse therapies, rehabilitation, counseling, promotional material, and awareness campaigns. The facilities are located at just about every duty station for each of the groups of people that could possibly need the services offered. There is no real way to build or make this system any better. The only thing that might be considered is that if someone voluntarily enters themselves into something like rehabilitation, then the commanders or chain of command can not get the soldier in trouble. While it is supposed to be this way and normally does not affect the soldier very much, in other cases, they can get demoted and other repercussions can happen for a soldier requesting help with

First of all, it limits them to centers that have undoubtedly already treated a lot of people from the military in the past. As a result, they will better understand the unique factors that contribute to their addictions.

The mean age for the participants in the study was 45. The study also took in account the time of service from the veterans, 60% served in the 1970's, 18% in the 1960's, and 18% in the 1980's (Carlson, Gavert, Macia, Ruzek, & Burling, 2013). The study includes veterans that suffer from personality disorders as well as alcohol abuse. Participants within the study are a mixture of races and come from various backgrounds. Included in demographic questions is if the veteran is divorced or married, which may also be a factor in this study. Additionally military branch information and associated was

In an effort to aid in the proper treatment recommendations for individuals presenting with substance abuse or dependence issues, the ASI was created for study purposes through the Veteran’s Administration in 1977 (McLellan et Al., 2006). It is a multidimensional assessment tool that expands its focus outside of simply substance abuse, but into other key complex domains that that either directly impact the individual’s substance abuse, or their subsequent recovery efforts (Denis, et AL., 2012). The ASI is a semi-structured assessment tool, that while it utilizes direct answers, also allows for the expansion of certain questions and the ability for assessor notes outside of provided questions, in order to allow a clearer understanding within certain domains. While I have never personally used a precise ASI assessment professionally with a client, I did notice an undeniable, almost succinct, similarity with the biopsychosocial assessment I use with clients in my position.

Treatment for co-ocurring disorders fall under the outpatient spectrum for addiction rehabilitation, however, it is an essential and successful form of treatment specifically for veterans. For many civilians who have not been to combat it is difficult to comprehend the toxic combination of pride, anger, duty, anguish and anxiety many veterans feel after their time in the service. Consequently, adjusting back to civilian life is a difficult task to accomplish; while some veterans sustain only minor physical and psychological wounds from combat, others aren’t as lucky. As mentioned above, for veterans, PTSD is considered a mental health condition caused by the traumatic events experienced in wartime. Thus often causing veterans to drugs or alcohol to self-medicate. If left unaddressed, PTSD and substance abuse in veterans can be

U.S. veterans and alcohol seem to go hand in hand. Even if a military member was not a user of alcohol prior to service almost all become a user during and after service. Alcohol is used frequently in military culture. Whether it is a celebration, promotion, victory, loss, demotion, or defeat alcohol is used to commemorate the moment. The question is what is alcohol and why is it the go to choice for services members?

Evidence Based Programs. Most evidence based substance abuse prevention education programs are sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration known as SAMHSA. According to Skager (2007), SAMSHA has developed over 158 programs which are qualified and registered into the National Registry of Evidence Based Programs and Practices (NREPP). Although evidence based approaches have been predicted to have more promising effects on drug prevention than other approach types, little evaluation and research has been conducted to fully assess outcomes (Skager, 2007).

This disorder leads the veterans to substance abuse to calm their nerves and help them feel more at ease. The substance abuse, in turn, leads the veterans to be more hostile, aggressive, and violent to those people around them, especially their families. A study found in The American Journal of Psychiatry revealed, "Increases in alcohol and substance abuse closely paralleled the increase in PTSD symptoms seen in the period during and immediately after the war. Patients reported that alcohol, heroin, marijuana, opiates, and benzodiazepines (but not cocaine) were beneficial for their symptoms of

*** was founded with a mission to be an alternative to incarceration. The organization is a private, free-standing, non-profit agency which is accessible to all, regardless of economic, ethnic or religious backgrounds. Since 1971, ***. has provided a highly successful, comprehensive, continuum of behavioral health services. Our formal treatment services have helped over 20,000 young people and their families. Under the *** umbrella, broad arrays of evidence-based prevention services have also been implemented in the treatment of substance use and co-occurring disorders. With their focus on identifying risk and protective factors, these programs have helped to educate and support

What are the objectives of ASAP? Increase individual fitness and overall unit readiness. Provide services, which are adequate and responsive to the needs of the total workforce and emphasize alcohol and other drug abuse deterrence, prevention, education, and treatment. Implement alcohol and other drug risk reduction and prevention strategies that respond to potential problems before they jeopardize readiness, productivity, and careers. Restore to duty those substance-impaired Soldiers who have the potential for continued military service. Provide effective alcohol and other drug abuse prevention and education at all levels of command, and encourage

Alcoholics Anonymous has given a wonderful platform of structure for the addicted ones to create a safe, solid, 12 Step guideline to follow, in order to maintain “Continual Sobriety,” “One day at a time.” Many counselors