Substance Abuse among U.S. Army Soldiers - Research Paper Example

? The Growing Issue of Substance Abuse in the Army First Middle initial and of Prof. First and oflecturer November 12, 2011 The Growing Issue of Substance Abuse in the Army Substance abuse among soldiers in the U.S. Army has become a growing concern. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (2011), the Department of Defense Health Behavior Survey revealed that although there was an overall decrease in the use of tobacco and illicit drugs over time, there has been a drastic increase in prescription drug abuse and heavy alcohol use among the soldiers. In fact, prescription drug abuse among U.S. military personnel was found to have doubled from 2002 to 2005 and has almost tripled between 2005 and 2008 (National Institute of Drug Abuse, 2011). Alcohol abuse is also very prevalent among the U.S. military personnel. In a recent study, 27% of the army soldiers, who returned from deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan within the last 3 to 4 months, met the criteria for alcohol abuse. They were also at increased risk of related harmful behaviors like drinking and driving and using illicit drugs. One of the major concerns in this area is that although soldiers frequently report alcohol and drug abuse concerns, only a few are referred to the Army Substance Abuse Program for help. According to the Army Vice Chief of Staff, General Peter Chiarelli, many soldiers who tested positive for substance abuse were not discharged because of the desire to keep as many soldiers in active duty as possible (More, 2009). Therefore, the current ‘soft attitude’ of the U.S. Army has to change and more stringent and aggressive policies have to be implemented in order to address the increasing rates of substance abuse among army personnel. Substance Abuse Associated With Mental Health Problems Military personnel are usually under a lot of pressure and stress which may cause them to be addicted to drugs or alcohol. The U.S. Army prescribes medications to soldiers to help them with stress release and anxiety (Winkel, 2009). They also prescribe medications to relieve them of physical pain or to keep them alert when circumstances require them to stay awake (Winkel, 2009). Although these medications may be necessary to keep the soldiers alert and able in times of war, continued use of these medications can cause the soldiers to get addicted to them. The addiction can be so strong that the soldiers may not be able to do without these prescription medications even after returning home. Substance abuse has been found to be associated with mental health problems. In fact, 45% of the army personnel who attempted to commit suicide between 2005 and 2009 were found to have mental health concerns (National Institute of Drug Abuse, 2011. The suicide rates among active duty soldiers, Army Reserve and Army National Guards increased from 67 in 2004 to about 140 in 2008 (Kuehn, 2009). In January 2009, the number of soldiers who committed suicide was more than the number of soldiers killed in combat (More, 2009). These statistics highlight the fact that soldiers dealing with the issue of substance abuse are usually at risk of experiencing mental health challenges. Researchers have identified several factors that may be responsible for frustration among army soldiers. One of the primary factors associated with frustration among the soldiers is the long hours of duty when they are in a war situation, which can cause the soldiers to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder and anxiety (Winkel, 2009). Again, deployment after shorter periods, requiring soldiers to serve more than one tours in combat can cause them to have significant stress and frustration (Winkel, 2009). Other stress factors include stressful and uncomfortable conditions of living, lack of adequate sleep, being away from family and the long duration of war (More, 2009). Due to the volatile nature of war, many soldiers are sent back to the war zone even before they are given the much needed help to overcome substance abuse. Another factor associated with stress among soldiers is the instant communication channels of cell phones and internet (Winkel, 2009). Although these communication channels help the soldiers to be in touch with their family and feel connected, it also brings in stress as they hear about issues that their family is facing back home (Winkel, 2009). When they hear about the worry that their family and loved ones feel for the soldiers, it puts in more responsibility and pressure on them. The stress and pressures that soldiers face in a war situation is considerable. Although there are soldiers who do not get addicted while they are on duty, they may begin to use drugs or alcohol after they return to normal life. This typically occurs as they try to cope with the new events in their life like marriage or birth of a child (Winkel, 2009). Again, the memories of the war, post traumatic stress disorder and head injuries may all cause the veteran soldier to use drugs and alcohol (Winkel, 2009). Some of the common mental health issues associated with substance abuse include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, manic depression, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder and antisocial personality disorder (Friedman et al., 1994). Several of these mental health conditions have an inherent tendency to increase one’s dependency on drugs. Since dependency on drugs and its association with mental health issues affects the person’s overall health and ability to perform his duties, it is very important detect these issues early and provide prompt treatment services. Considering the fact that these individuals work for the U.S. Army, the stakes are much higher as the risk to self and fellow workers can be substantial. Substance Abuse Associated With High Risk Behaviors Substance abuse among military personnel is also associated with increased risk for harmful behaviors. According to a recent study, Reserve and National Guard personnel and young service members are at increased risk of new-onset of heavy weekly drinking, binge drinking and other alcohol related problems (Jacobson et al., 2008). According to the National Institute of Health (2011), there has also been a steep increase in smoking initiation and relapse among army personnel who were deployed. High rate of substance abuse, especially alcohol use, among army personnel has also been found to be associated with harmful behaviors like drinking and driving and using illicit drugs. One of the main factors for initiation of substance abuse among soldiers is the high pressure work environment that involves significant amount of stress (Winkel, 2009). Since dependency on alcohol and the increased risk of harmful behaviors affect the person’s overall health and ability to perform his duties, it is very important to detect these issues early and provide prompt treatment. Again, as these individuals work for the U.S. Army, the stakes are much higher, as the risk to self and fellow workers can be substantial. Soft Attitude of the U.S. Army The U.S. Army has had an apparent ‘soft attitude’ towards army personnel who have been identified as substance abusers. Although the issue of substance abuse among military personnel is of growing concern, the U. S. Army has taken little or no action towards individuals who have been identified as substance abusers. According to the Army Vice Chief of Staff, General Peter Chiarelli, many soldiers have tested positive for substance abuse without any disciplinary action taken against them (More, 2009). There have also been several cases wherein soldiers, who have tested positive for substance abuse on numerous occasions, have neither been referred to the Army Substance Abuse Program to get help nor has any action been taken against them (More, 2009). The laid back response of the U.S. Army reveals that substance abuse is not of primary concern to the U.S. Army. According to General Peter Chiarelli, no action have been taken against soldiers who have been identified with substance abuse because the U.S. Army wants to keep as many combat troops in active duty as possible (More, 2009). This statement form the Army Vice Chief of Staff clearly reveals that the U.S. Army has been very selfish in dealing with this matter. When this information was made public, there was a general perception among the people across America that the U.S. army finds it more important to keep a soldier in active duty than to provide them with the much needed help to address the issue of substance abuse. According to the National Institute of Health (2011), the increasing rate of relapse and initiation of substance abuse among soldiers is because of their high pressure work environment. This factor makes the situation more complex. The challenges that this issue brings with respect to the work environment and the individuals’ personal health, underscores the need to control and reduce the rate of substance abuse among the U.S. military personnel. Resolving Substance Abuse Among Soldiers The issue of substance abuse among military personnel can be resolved using various social controls which can be implemented before, during and after deployment. Following are some recommendations to improve the current system and ensure early detection and treatment for soldiers dealing with the issue of substance abuse: 1. A holistic approach is very essential to give a continuous support to the soldier and reduce the rate of relapse among them. This holistic approach towards health and wellness should involve regular education regarding substance abuse and its effects and prevention and training programs. 2. The U.S. Army should strictly conduct regular screening of all army personnel for substance abuse. Soldiers identified with suicidal tendencies or other mental health issues should be carefully monitored and provided education on coping skills to deal with their feelings. 3. The U.S. military should invest in additional medical personnel in the field who can provide screening, prevention and treatment services to the soldiers while they are away from their home base. 4. According to the National Institute of Health (2011), a prospective study of a representative sample of U.S. soldiers is currently underway wherein soldiers will be tracked from 2001 to 2022. In this study, various governmental agencies, researchers and public health organizations have collaborated to implement and test evidence based prevention and treatment interventions on army personnel and their families. This study is currently testing the use of smart phones and wearable wireless sensors which are used to monitor real-time responses to stress among military soldiers suffering from trauma and addiction (National Institute of Health, 2011). The data will be collected and examined to determine if there are any trends that can predict that a certain individual will have a relapse. In this study, psychologists will develop interventions that the soldiers can receive through smart phones. This real time intervention can help prevent soldiers from using drugs and alcohol as a response to anxiety and stress in their life. This study has revealed some promising results in the preliminary stages and if proved to be effective, the federal government should provide additional funding to use it on a larger scale. 5. Another important area that the National Institute of Drug Abuse is focusing on is the military personnel’s access to substance abuse related treatment options. They are also studying the feasibility of using the Internet based interventions to treat soldiers (National Institute of Health, 2011). This is yet again another means to improve access to care among soldiers dealing with substance abuse. 6. The use of drug courts to address the issue of substance abuse among military personnel is also being studied. The drug courts have been proved to be very effective especially with respect to resolving cases that involve nonviolent crimes committees by substance abusers National Institute of Health, 2011). This system is helpful in getting the much required treatment to the substance abusers quickly without being taken to prison for such offences. Since typically veterans face the criminal justice system for offences pertaining to substance abuse, the drug courts is definitely a better option for them as it given them the opportunity to access substance abuse related support and services with they otherwise would not receive. The benefit of drug courts has been widely recognized as is evident from the fact that there are 65 drug courts in 20 states in the U.S. These social controls can therefore help the policies and procedures concerning substance abuse in the U.S. Army to be more stringent and yet ensure access to much needed care for those who need it. Potential Social and Economic Benefits of Implementing these Recommendations Following are some of the major social and economic benefits that can be experienced if these recommendations are implemented: 1. The military personnel dealing with the issue of substance abuse and related mental health issues will be quickly identified and referred for treatment to the Army Substance Abuse Program. This will ensure that the soldiers would receive the much needed care and treatment to overcome their addiction and mental health issues. 2. Investing in prevention and early detection strategies will greatly reduce the cost of treatment and rehabilitation program. The army would benefit significantly by not loosing active duty soldiers due to death (suicide) or discharge from service (due to mental health or addiction related challenges). 3. Implementing such rigorous strategies to address the issue of substance abuse among army personnel will boost the morale of the troops as they realize that their health is of primary concern to the U.S. Army. Conclusion In conclusion, the rate of substance abuse among the U.S. military soldiers is rapidly increasing. Therefore, the U.S. Army needs to revamp its current policies and procedures and take a more active stance to address this issue. Substance abuse among military soldiers also has associated risk factors of suicide and other mental health disorders. Therefore, it is very important to address this issue at the earliest because substance abuse can cause soldiers to take high risk behaviors like using illicit drugs and diving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Hence, it is very important to develop strategies that involve early detection through screening, develop access to care and implement rigorous treatment procedures for soldiers who require treatment. These policies and protocols will benefit the soldiers by getting the required help at the earliest. It will also benefit the U.S. Army by reducing the health care cost and risk of loosing active duty soldiers. Reference Friedman, M.J., Schnurr, P.P., & AcDonagh-Coyle, A. (1994). Post-traumatic stress disorder in the military veteran. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 17(2), 265-277. Jacobson, I.G., Ryan, M. A. K., Hooper, T.I., Smith, T.C., Amoroso, P.J., Boyko, E.J., Gackstetter, G.D., Wells, T.S., & Bell, N. S. (2008). Alcohol use and alcohol related problems before and after military combat deployment. Journal of American Medical Association, 300(6), 663-675. Kuehn, B. M. (2009). Soldier suicide rates continue to rise. Journal of American Medical Association, 301(11), 1111-1113. Moore, J. (2009). Army facing substance abuse problems. Treatment Solutions Network. Retrieved from http://www.treatmentsolutionsnetwork.com/blog/index.php/ 2009/05/26/army-facing-substance-abuse-problems/ National Institute of Health. (2011). Substance Abuse and the military, veterans and their families. National Institute of Drug Abuse. Retrieved from http://www.nida.nih.gov/ tib/vet.html Winkel, B. (2009). The military and substance abuse. Treatment Solutions Network. Retrieved from http://www.treatmentsolutionsnetwork.com/blog/index.php/ 2009/08/04/the-military-and-substance-abuse/ Read More