Veterans & Addiction: How Addiction Affects Veterans & Active Military

Alcohol is the most used drug among military personnel and veterans. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 30% of active-duty service members partake in binge drinking habits. More than 5% of those individuals were heavy drinkers and over one third of those met the criteria for alcohol-use disorder.

Prescription drug misuse has become more frequent in the military and veteran community because many are treated with opioids for injuries or benzos for symptoms of PTSD. Overtime, individuals become dependent on these drugs and a tolerance can develop, increasing risk for addiction. According to the VA, 50-60% of  service members returning from deployment experience chronic pain.

Tobacco is another widely used substance in the Military and Veteran community. According to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), tobacco use cost the Department of Defense nearly $1.8 billion in medical and non-medical costs. In 2010, the Veterans Health Administration spent $2.7 billion on smoking-related ambulatory care.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a range of symptoms an individual experiences after witnessing traumatic incidents or being in dangerous situations. Those with multiple deployments and exposure to combat have a higher risk of developing PTSD and other co-occurring mental health disorders. Veterans and military personnel that have these mental health issues may turn to alcohol and/or drugs to help alleviate their symptoms.

Those serving in the military can turn to alcohol as a way to relieve stress, socialize with coworkers, or use it as a common way to pass time. For years, alcohol has also played a large role in military culture. Tied to masculinity, some service members feel like they need to keep up with alcohol use to find commonalities with their co-workers.

During a military career, individuals are often faced with high expectations to perform well in their position and experience stressful environments while in active duty. In response to this, individuals can resort to substances to cope. According to a report from the Department of Defense (DoD), 14 percent of its personnel self-reported current smoking.

Any type of transition can be challenging and stressful. However, going back to normal life after serving in the military can be especially hard. In the military, people have structure, discipline, order, and a certain sense of duty and purpose. These things can be difficult to maintain for people after serving in the military when they return to civilian life. Not to mention all the everyday things veterans have to do, like make new friends, find a decent job, find a new place to live, and navigate all the services that used to be provided by the military. These stressors can cause veterans to turn to substances to cope.