Call 888-647-0579 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.

Who Answers?

After combat, citizen soldiers turning to alcohol

National Guard and Reserve combat troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are more likely to develop drinking problems than active-duty soldiers, a new military study suggests.

The authors speculate that inadequate preparation for the stress of combat and reduced access to support services at home might be to blame.

The study, appearing in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association, is the first to compare Iraq and Afghanistan veterans’ alcohol problems before and after deployment.

It should help guide planning for future prevention and treatment programs, said study co-author Dr. Edward Boyko, who works for the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System.

The research is one of the first major studies to emerge from the Pentagon’s landmark “Millennium” study, launched in 2001 because of concerns about possible health effects from the first Gulf War. It includes tens of thousands of military personnel and is designed to evaluate the long-term health effects of military service.

In the alcohol study, researchers analyzed data from nearly 80,000 military personnel, including more than 11,000 who were sent to Iraq and Afghanistan. They looked at whether deployment and combat exposure were linked with new alcohol problems such as binge drinking.

They found that more than 600 combat troops who reported no binge drinking at the start of the study developed the problem after deployment and combat exposure. That accounted for about 26 percent of the estimated 2,400 military personnel exposed to combat who did not report binge drinking at the start of the study.

New patterns of regular heavy drinking and alcohol problems, such as missing work because of drinking, occurred more often in guard and reserve troops who experienced combat. Their risk of developing new drinking problems, compared to guardsmen and reservists who weren’t deployed, was about 60 percent higher.

Alcohol abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression make up an “unholy trinity” that haunts some combat soldiers, said psychologist William Schlenger of the consulting firm Abt Associates Inc. in Durham, N.C. He was a principal investigator of the influential National Vietnam Veterans’ Readjustment Study but was not involved in the new research.
_____
source: Journal Gazette, http://www.journalgazette.net

More Treatment & Detox Articles

Fears rise as binge drinking among youths increases

Significant increases in youth binge drinking and hospitalizations has government officials worried. Experts are considering new methods to prevent German children from harming themselves through consuming alcohol. Alcohol has been a socially accepted and legalized drug in most parts of the world since humans first learned the secrets of fermentation. But there’s a rapidly growing….

Is Medical Advice On Prenatal Alcohol Use Really Acurate?

A medico-legal professional in the Journal of Medical Ethics states that advice given by many doctors on drinking during pregnancy is condescending and morally uncertain, including the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer for England and the British Medical Association (BMA). Unlike heavy drinking, when consumption is reasonable and moderate, studies still do not conclude….

People Versus Alcohol and Drugs

IT is a battle that all of us have to join hands and fight. Alcohol and drug abuse is on the increase in our society, especially among the youth. Young people should guard against becoming victims or risk being given a knockout by alcohol and drugs. Please stay clear of alcohol and drugs. We know….

Choosing Between Arizona Treatment Centers for a Loved One

Helping a loved one find needed drug treatment can make a life-changing difference in the life of your loved one. Compared to other states, Arizona carried a higher than average rate for drug-related fatalities in 2008, according to the Arizona Drug Control Update. Arizona also ranks highest in the number of people who reported using….

Teenagers and Alcohol Abuse: What are the Risks?

There are many risks involved with underage drinking. Possibly the scariest is the lack of understanding about alcohol and what it does to the body. Underage drinkers have no concept of the damage drinking too much can have or even what constitutes “a drink”. 14 grams of pure alcohol is a standard drink: which is….