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The Impact of the Causes and Effects of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the Canadian and US Military Personnel

 

Table of Contents

Abstract. 4

Introduction. 5

Overview.. 5

Definition of Terms. 7

Background. 8

Purpose. 9

Hypothesis. 9

Literature Review.. 10

Causes of Alcohol and Drug Use. 10

Exposure to Combat. 10

Psychological Distress. 12

Military Culture. 12

Increased Injury Risk and Pain Medication Misuse. 13

Illicit Drug Use. 14

Social Theories and Alcoholism and Drug Use. 14

Strain Theory. 15

Social Learning Theory. 15

Labelling Theory. 16

Effects of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the Military. 16

Suicide. 16

Domestic Violence. 17

Homelessness. 17

Health Issues. 18

Results. 19

Conceptual Approach. 19

Findings. 19

Combat Exposure Findings. 20

Alcohol Abuse and Military Culture Findings. 20

Illicit Drug Abuse, Pain Medication Abuse, and Psychological Distress Findings. 21

Prevention Approach. 21

Alcohol Preventative Measures. 23

Other Drug Preventative Measures. 23

Intervention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the Military. 24

Treatment of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the Military. 25

Discussion. 26

Implications. 26

Future Research. 27

Recommendations. 27

Limitations to the Study. 27

Conclusion. 28

References. 29

Reading Code Organization Sheet (RCOS Sheet). 33

 

 

 

Abstract

Alcohol and drug abuse amongst US and Canadian military personnel is an emerging issue resulting in some active-duty military personnel’s dishonorable discharge because of addiction. Contributing to the increasing substance use disorder in military bases are combat exposure, psychological distress, military culture of drinking, and pain medication abuse coupled with illicit drugs while on military service. Statistics suggest that with the increasing issues associated with alcohol and drug abuse, veterans have also been associated with consequences that include suicide, homelessness, domestic violence, and health issues. This paper offers scope in how each cause leads to the effects of substance use disorders while looking into preventative measures, interventions, and treatments. Findings explain that combat exposure is the leading cause of alcohol and drug abuse amongst military personnel, with alcoholism resulting in military personnel’s negative outcomes. Overindulgence in pain medication while using illicit drugs affects the military personnel’s physical, mental, and emotional state. Therefore, by recommending the understanding of causes leading to substance use disorder amongst military personnel, better intervention and treatment methods will be devised to help curb alcohol and drug abuse amongst military personnel in the US and Canadian armies. 

Keywords:           PTSD, active-duty military personnel, veterans, addiction, substance use                                              disorder, alcohol and drug abuse, deployment

 

 

The Impact of the Causes and Effects of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the Canadian and US Military Personnel

Introduction

Overview

Different workplaces have different stressors that affect employees. Over the last decade, statistics show an overgrowing concern regarding substance abuse in workplaces, leading to low productivity, diseases, addiction, and death in the United States and Canada (O’Brien et al., 2013). The US and Canadian militaries are no different from other workplaces regarding alcohol and drug abuse concerns. O’Brien et al. (2013) reiterate that the data collected suggest more substance and alcohol abuse in the military than in most workplaces amongst active-duty military personnel and veterans.

Individuals enlisting in the military service have a sworn duty to protect and serve the nations they are deployed to while maintaining their integrity and loyalty to their countries while also warding off imminent attacks from foreign threats. Hartley et al. (2016) explain that military personnel encounters different deployment situations that become stressors in their line of duty during deployment. Part of these stressors is watching fellow soldiers die in the line of duty, being away from loved ones in a hostile land, and injuries during deployment (Hartley et al., 2016). During deployment, military officers go through stressors that influence their need for coping mechanisms; and what better way to cope than excessive binge drinking of alcoholic beverages and indulgence in illicit drugs like opioids and marijuana (Recovery Unplugged, 2020). After their service and returning home as veterans of honorably discharged soldiers, some military personnel come back with the same stressors and instead indulge in alcohol and drug abuse.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), some are honorably discharged and return to communities as veterans of the active duty service military personnel. Statistics show that some veterans are seen to get addicted to alcohol and substance abuse because of trauma occurring during combat (NIDA, 2019). According to SAMHSA’s 2013 research, 1.5 million veterans and active-duty military officers older than 17 were found to have substance abuse within the year. Furthering this argument are the statistics leading up to substance use effects amongst veterans and active-duty military personnel.

 Among active-duty personnel and veterans, statistics show that military personnel suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, leading to a substance use disorder. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) carried out research that concluded; amongst these personnel, over 63 % of them were found to suffer from addiction to drugs like opioids, illicit drugs, pain management drugs, and had turned to alcoholism (NIDA, 2019). Research from NIDA (2019) adds that as the addictions worsened amongst active-duty military personnel and veterans, statistics show a rise in domestic violence in veteran homes, suicidal behavior, homelessness, medical issues including mental disorders, fatigue, depression, heart diseases, headaches that became migraines, and dizziness, and insomnia.

This paper will give a brief background on the causes and effects of substance abuse in the Canadian and the United States military personnel. Following this will be a literature review highlighting the cause and effects of alcohol and drug abuse in military personnel. The paper then details a conceptual approach on the results and findings from the research conducted and the prevention, intervention, and treatment of substance abuse amongst military personnel. Lastly, the paper gives a discussion that helps understand the results and their implications while providing recommendations for future ways to cope with substance abuse disorders.

Definition of Terms

Active duty military personnel:- A person who enlists in the army and is active in the military full time and lives in the military base, and can be deployed at any time (US Department of Veterans Affairs, 2017).

Veteran: -This person has been a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or                Canadian Army, having served on active duty left military service under honorable discharge (US Department of Veterans Affairs, 2017).

Substance abuse disorder (SUD):-  This happens when a person indulges continuously in alcohol and drug abuse that leads to the person having adverse consequences                      that include health issues, domestic and marital issues, and work issues; often caused by stressors that include peer pressure, emotional distress,                                                              environmental stress, depression, or anxiety                                                                                                     (US National Library of Medicine, 2017).

Alcohol and drug abuse:- This happens when a person overindulged in alcohol and illicit                drugs to the point that he or she misbehaves in public, leading up to                                                 unacceptable social behavior, an impairment to set duties that one is to conduct,   problems that result in health issues, financial problems or affect personal relationships.

Alcohol and drug addiction:-  A physiological condition in which consuming drugs or alcohol          is necessary to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Alcoholic: – A person has the illness of alcoholism. The alcoholic has lost the ability to                       the consumption of alcohol.

Alcoholism: -A progressive chronic illness characterized by habitual excessive consumption         of alcohol impairs the individual’s physical and mental health, personal relations, social conduct, and job performance.

Trauma: – This is damage to a person because of stressful events that cause an overwhelming amount of distress above the ability of a person to cope, resulting in negative consequences.

Deployment: – This involves the movement of military personnel from their home stations to    a place or location outside of the continental US and Canadian territories                   (US Department of Veterans Affairs, 2017).

Background

Joining either the US Armed forces or Canadian military comes with defending respective nations from foreign threats. According to Thomas (2019), these exercises include deploying troops into war-torn countries like Afghanistan and Iraq to help in peacekeeping missions. As a result, active-duty personnel, while deployed in such areas, encounter victories and different situations of fellow soldiers dying while in duty.

Either way, military personnel will indulge in binge drinking as a way to celebrate, cope, or try to cover the trauma experienced on the battlefield during their deployment once they are back to their military camps. Murray (2018) adds that active-duty military personnel will also indulge in illicit drugs such as marijuana as a coping mechanism during deployment. According to Thomas (2019), alcohol and drug abuse in the military may result in a dishonorable discharge from military duty, adding to trauma and stress that one may have from the battlefield. Others will indulge in the overuse of prescribed pain medication that includes opioids. 

Crisp and Associates (2019), a law firm that practices military law, confirm that administrative discharging proceedings are carried out to any military personnel found to have alcohol or drug abuse. Ultimately, veterans coming home and dishonorably discharged military officers from military service because of failing drug tests or disciplinary issues indulge in alcohol and drug abuse; hence, becoming addicts diagnosed with substance abuse disorders (SUDs). Eventually, military personnel ends up having health issues that include mental disorders, fatigue,  depression, heart diseases, headaches that became migraines, and dizziness, insomnia, domestic violence in veteran homes, suicidal behavior, and homelessness (Vertava Health Editorial Team, 2019). Others develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the body injuries that succumbed during their active duties, leading to an over-reliance on pain medication as a way of coping, hence addiction.

Miller et al. (2017) argue that substance use disorder (SUD) is a growing concern in military service among military personnel. Veterans and active-duty military personnel with alcohol and drug use are characterized by disruptions in military service, disruptions in personal relationships, and social conduct. Therefore, this paper provides a conceptual approach to understanding the causes and effects of SUD in military personnel and preventing, intervening, and providing future recommendations on ways forward.

Purpose

 This paper aims to address the main causes of alcohol and drug abuse amongst military personnel and highlight the effects of the substance abuse disorder while looking into results about the impact of substance abuse on military personnel.

Hypothesis

Alcohol and drug abuse are not related to military personnel’s physical, emotional, financial, or mental deterioration.

Alcohol and drug abuse lead to military personnel’s physical, emotional, financial, and mental deterioration.

Literature Review

The overwhelming concern about alcohol and drug use amongst military personnel can be attributed to causes that lead to alarming statistics about active-duty military personnel and veterans. Veterans and active-duty military personnel encounter PTSD from missions when deployed, leading to coping mechanisms. These come with overdependence on alcohol and drugs. However, as a result, causes of SUD in the Canadian and US military include exposure to combat situations, psychological distress, the military culture, and overuse of prescribed medication because of an increased injury risk; that lead to adverse consequences like suicide, domestic violence, health issues, and financial problems to military personnel (Miller et al., 2017; Teeters et al., 2017). This literature review helps one understand the causes and effects of alcohol and drug use and their relationship to military personnel deterioration.

Causes of Alcohol and Drug Use

Exposure to Combat

Referring to research published in the Journal of Traumatic, active-duty military personnel develop substance abuse problems as early as their deployment periods at tender ages of enlisting in the military of 17 years. Miller et al. (2017) explain that in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, studies found out those veterans who come back home after exposure to combat, for example, in the military conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, soldiers came back and developed post- discharge substance abuse problems (Miller et al., 2017). Miller et al.

(2017) also, talks of young soldiers who engage in military action are more likely to develop alcohol and drug abuse over their time in the military. Eventually, this abuse of drugs and overindulgence in alcohol leads to a substance use disorder.

Teeters et al. (2017) explain that active-duty military personnel and soldiers encounter stressful situations during exposure to military conflicts. Particularly to these are events of war and conflict, including comrades dead because of insurgent forces attacking, injuries suffered from improvised explosive devices from terrorists, stress developed from harming civilians, and severe trauma after being captured and tortured by enemy forces (Mind, 2017). With this, soldiers develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Consequently, soldiers of war and veterans after their discharge from service tend to find ways of coping with the PTSD acquired during their military service.

Coming back to military bases for active-duty military personnel and back home for veterans, such soldiers are met with instances that remind them of their time during the military conflict (Teeters et al., 2017). Because of the notion that soldiers are strong-minded, they opt to avoid therapy to help with their PTSD as treatment. Instead, they indulge in alcohol and drug to help with drowning away symptoms of PTSD from war (Mind, 2017).  Part of the symptoms that such witness from PTSD are flashbacks that replay traumatic events during their times in war-torn areas, nightmares coupled with physical sensations of pain, sweating, and trembling.

Returning soldiers from deployment have a hard time adjusting back to society because of their untreated PTSD. To ward off and suppress symptoms of PTSD, soldiers indulge in alcohol and drug abuse, which distracts them from the reality that is their traumatic events (Waller et al., 2015). Eventually, veterans and dishonorably discharged soldiers tend to overindulge alcohol and drug abuse leading to SUD. This is because they do not believe that anyone can help them, especially with the traumatic events they have gone through (Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, 2018). Soldiers of war generally believe that their experiences live with them and become a part of them, making them resistant to medical care on the recurring PTSD.

Psychological Distress

                PTSD, depression characterize military personnel after military conflicts and exposure to combat, and traumatic brain injuries are encountered in the line of duty. Combined, these become a problem for a soldier in the US and Canadian armies to perform their duties properly and effectively (Thomas, 2019). To avoid being discharged from military service, the soldiers indulge in alcohol and drug abuse, leading to alcoholism, addiction, and substance use disorders (Thomas, 2019). Miller et al. (2017) add that the depression and symptoms of PTSD create invisible wounds that contribute to the continued alcoholism and drug use as they lead to mental disorders that disrupt the proper functioning of soldiers deployed for military action. Therefore, active-duty military personnel and veterans engage in alcohol and drug abuse to alleviate symptoms of PTSD from exposure to combat and other mental issues, including depression.

Military Culture

                Military officers deployed meet up in military camps having arrived from different areas in the US and Canada. As young fellows above the age of 17, they are bound to socialize and get to know each other as they align their beliefs towards the common goal of serving and protecting their respective countries. Miller et al. (2017) explain that during these socialization periods in military camps, they indulge in alcohol binge drinking and cigarette smoking. With no military action at the military bases that military officers are deployed to, binge drinking and cigarette smoking turn excessive (Teeters et al., 2017). Statistics show that army officers deployed in the military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan show that in 2015, 30% of the active-duty military personnel were binge drinkers (Thomas, 2019). Thomas (2019) affirms that ff the total number of active-duty military personnel, 5% were heavy drinkers who engaged in dangerous drinking behaviors that resulted in alcohol use disorders; hence, an alcohol addiction develops.

Increased Injury Risk and Pain Medication Misuse

                Canadian and US military troops go through training drills that exert pressure on them to get stronger, fitter, and ready for any situation that may arise once deployed. According to Teeters et al. (2017), once deployed, active-duty military personnel get injured and come back to military bases with battlefield injuries, including shrapnel shells logged in them from improvised explosive devices and land mines set up by enemy insurgents. Reports from NIDA (2016) affirm that while getting treatment from military-based clinics, injured military officers are prescribed pain medication and opioids to relieve pain. Although the pain medication is prescribed according to the dosage and person, some military personnel on the base getting treatment get to misuse pain medication and not follow the medicine bottles’ prescriptions (NIDA, 2016). They indulge in the misuse of pain medication because the pain comes in spasms and since they are afraid of being discharged from military service because of pain management. Therefore, to ease the pain, overindulgence on pain medication and opioids leads to addiction of the medication leading to substance use disorders amongst active-duty military personnel.

On the other hand, Teeters et al. (2017) reiterate that some soldiers with severe injuries and amputated limbs are honorably discharged from military service and head home with PTSD. While in therapy, the veterans get prescribed the same pain medication and opioids. Overindulgence in pain medication leads to addiction to the same medication (Waller et al., 2015). Although this is seen amongst most veterans, the prescriptions run out faster than the desired period; hence, instead of getting prescriptions filled up, they will indulge in other forms of pain medication found in the streets from drug peddlers (Teeters et al., 2017). The veterans can also get opioids prescribed like codeine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone easily in their respective drug-dealing neighborhoods. The continued overdependence on pain medication and illicit, illegal drugs for veterans results in substance use disorders. 

Illicit Drug Use

During deployment in war-torn areas like Iraq and Afghanistan, active-duty military personnel is exposed to civilians who use illicit drugs that are home-grown. Of these drugs, active-duty military personnel is known to indulge in Hashish and marijuana. Statistics suggest that 3.5% of veterans indulge in marijuana on the home front, while 1.5% of veterans indulge in different illicit drugs in one month (Thomas, 2019). As more veterans return home, cannabis use disorders increased during veteran health care between 2002 and 2009. As more veterans use marijuana, others turn to smoke and hard drugs like morphine and cocaine to repress symptoms of PTSD. Compared to civilians, veterans are on a higher percentage of using drug use, averaging 27% to 21% of the US and Canada’s normal population. Eventually, these veterans are hooked on the hard drugs they use, leading to substance use disorders, including addiction.

Social Theories and Alcoholism and Drug Use

Sociologists suggest that behavior is equally proportional to influences in society. To understand why active-duty military personnel and veterans engage in alcoholism and drug use, theories influence such behavior. These theories in question are the strain theory, social learning theory, and labeling theory.

Strain Theory

Robert Agnew’s strain theory suggests that when individuals in society feel pressured because of a lack of social factors, they are likely to indulge in criminal activities to feed their social needs. Agnew presented the strain theory with three categories; namely, individuals will fail to reach desired positive outcomes, positive reinforcement is removed from an individual’s presence, and there is an introduction of hindrances. In the military, hindrances are introduced through active-duty service (Peck et al., 2017). Military personnel face trauma, PTSD, depression, and injuries. These are negative stimuli that lead to military personnel seeking alternatives (Peck et al., 2017). Therefore, increased exposure to strain will lead to military personnel and veterans engaging in heavy alcohol drinking, overdosing on prescription drugs, and illicit drugs and marijuana, leading to substance use disorders. Ultimately, when dishonorably discharged or veterans in society, cases of domestic violence, suicide, theft, and altercations will be seen amongst military personnel with substance use disorders.

Social Learning Theory

Albert Bandura’s social learning theory proposes that individuals gain certain behavior by observing, mimicking, and emulating these behaviors (Akers et al., 2016). In the military, new cadets deployed in military bases find experienced soldiers of war seated and engaging in binge drinking. As a point to fit in with others, these young cadets will sit around and start binge drinking too. This is a sign of low self-esteem amongst these young soldiers. As the young soldiers gain military experience, binge drinking becomes a part of them, as they have assimilated into the culture by observing and imitating their superiors’ behaviors (Akers et al., 2016). Ultimately, the social learning behavior leads to alcoholism amongst active-duty military personnel.

Labelling Theory

Frank Tannenbaum’s labeling theory suggests that some behavior or people can be considered deviant, harmful, or of bad influence. Veterans’ perceptions of veterans have undergone a lot of trauma and seen gruesome scenes during their military service (Goode, 2017). Therefore, when veterans assimilate back into society, citizens perceive them as dangerous and volatile with a tendency to cause harm to others. Veterans who get this stereotypical harsh treatment will retaliate by being protective and bury their trauma, PTSD, and depression in alcohol and drugs. With such perceptions, veterans are more likely going to engage in substance use disorders and alcoholism.

Effects of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the Military

Suicide

                Teeters et al. (2017) affirm that suicide is the most common result of alcohol and drug abuse amongst military officers and veterans. The trauma that comes with witnessing war events weighs heavy on active duty military personnel leading to PTSD. PTSD is characterized by symptoms including flashbacks that replay traumatic events during their times in war-torn areas, nightmares coupled with physical sensations of pain, sweating, and trembling. Waller et al. (2015) support the increased suicide rates by claiming that although these are symptoms commonly seen, veterans and soldiers of war both honorably and dishonorably discharged get to indulge in substance use disorders where one drug fails to take away the traumas of war; hence they move on to another. As the cycle continues, from moving to harder drugs, veterans and soldiers of war develop lower self-esteem as they see themselves as outcasts in society since they cannot fit in with civilians (Arrow Passage, 2020). Eventually, suicide becomes the only option for them influenced illicit drug addiction and alcoholism to cover up untreated PTSD. With some veterans prescribed sedative medication to help them sleep through the night, they overdose on such medication leading to suicide cases increasing by the year.

Domestic Violence

                Over the years, veterans come home with the idea of binge drinking with fellow veterans in social clubs leading to alcoholism. As they try to cope with their time at home and adjust to the new life without violence, they may have home triggers. Teeters et al. (2017) explain that some addicts may control themselves and choose to leave such high-tension areas that make them volatile and may react. On the other hand, some engage with their partners at home, leading to increased domestic violence cases (Thomas, 2019). With alcoholism and drug abuse instances, their judgment may be impaired on where to stop when they start being violent (Arrow Passage, 2020).  Ultimately, domestic violence cases have been documented where veterans have gone beyond their violent tendencies, leading to their partners’ hospitalization or death at their hands.

Homelessness

Veterans amongst all soldiers of war who return home from deployment have difficulty adjusting to civilian life and struggling with social reintegration. Therefore, in their attempt to reintegrate into society, veterans get to indulge in binge drinking and drug dealing with feeding their anxiety (Arrow Passage, 2020).  Ultimately, when their money is made while on military deployment ends, they result in theft and robbery to get more money to buy drugs. Consequently, veterans put up their houses for sale to feed their addictions, ending up in the streets stealing and homeless (Thomas, 2019). In some cases, veterans have been arrested and incarcerated because of robbery with violence to feed their alcoholism and substance use disorder.

Health Issues

Adding to addiction and PTSD, alcohol and drug abuse are health issues that arise from alcoholism and substance use disorders to military personnel bodies. Binge drinking veterans have been known to develop liver cirrhosis because of liver damage caused by excessive alcohol drinking (Thomas, 2019). Teeters et al. (2017) explain that chain cigarette smoking comes with the lungs’ damage from cigarette smoke leading to lung cancer. Most veterans have been diagnosed with lung cancer as former smokers while in their military deployment.

Secondly, veterans and active-duty military personnel have recovery problems from injuries that succumbed during their military service. Faraji et al. (2018) point out those injuries include shrapnel shells logged in soldiers during their military service or amputation from enemy insurgents’ attacks using improvised explosive devices and mines. Therefore, while going through physiotherapy, addiction to pain medication leads to them disregarding their bodies’ health, leaving amputated limbs uncared to lead to infections and worsening the condition (Faraji et al., 2018). Infections spread through the body from the amputation and shrapnel shells logged in the body, leading to more substance use disorders that may lead to veterans’ and military officers’ death from infection.

Lastly, both active duty military officers and veterans suffer from other health issues that may affect their time at the military bases. These include easily agitated veterans, fatigue, headaches and migraines, insomnia, intimacy issues, loss of appetite, and heart issues (Vertava Health Editorial Team, 2019). All these develop because of the overindulgence of illicit drugs, opioids, and alcoholism. Research on the causes and effects of alcohol and drug abuse in the military service of Canadian the US military provide substantial evidence on the need for prevention methods and techniques.

Results

Conceptual Approach

This research paper relies on evidence and data collected through a conceptual approach using thematic analysis to help understand data surrounding the impact of the causes and effects of alcohol and drug abuse in the US and Canadian military towards ways to prevent, intervene, and treat substance use disorders. In definition, a thematic analysis is used to identify patterns or themes within qualitative data (Mortensen, 2019). Using thematic analysis is especially favorable for such information conducted on research over large data documented. Therefore, the use of thematic analysis in interpreting data in this research paper is more effective as it helps express more on issues that result in the causes and effects of alcohol and drug abuse in the US and Canadian military. 

As a thematic analysis, the data collection was conducted by prioritizing each set of data in themes surrounding the causes and effects of alcohol and drug abuse in the US and Canadian military. Therefore, themes used to analyze the literature review data are combat exposure, psychological distress, military culture, pain medication misuse, and illicit drug use. These themes rest on the data analysis towards how each answers the hypotheses presented for the paper. Therefore, thematic analysis is advantageous in analyzing this data as it provides an approach that is highly flexible while giving a detailed account of the data presented.

Findings

The literature review pins the causes of alcohol and drug abuse against each alcohol and drug abuse effect on military personnel in the US and Canadian military service. Each theme will analyze against each of the hypotheses to help understand how they positively or negatively affect military personnel’s lives found to have SUD. Therefore, the findings and analysis of each cause against each effect and how they will influence providing solutions towards preventative techniques, interventions, and treatment procedures for military personnel with SUD.

Combat Exposure Findings

Studies show that combat exposure is the leading cause of alcohol and drug abuse amongst military personnel. Military officers and soldiers exposed to combat have a higher chance of indulging in excessive alcohol consumption resulting in alcoholism or drug abuse leading to substance use disorders (Miller et al., 2017). Therefore, the alternative hypothesis proves a direct relation between causes and effects of alcohol and drug abuse amongst military personnel and their physical, mental, and emotional deterioration. Because of PTSD, military personnel, both active duty and veterans, use alcohol and drug abuse to repress their traumatic experiences; hence, while doing so, their quality of life is lowered.

Alcohol Abuse and Military Culture Findings

Excessive alcohol drinking that includes binge drinking had resulted in negative outcomes amongst military personnel, both veterans and active-duty personnel in the US and Canadian military. According to research findings, military personnel’s alcohol consumption is the highest among all US and Canada (Kime, 2019). Survey data shows that between 2013 and 2017, spent more days in a year binge drinking than any other profession with an average of at least four to five alcoholic beverages per day in one sitting.

As the rates of alcohol consumption increase amongst military personnel, so do the increase in alcohol-related problems (O’Brien, Oster, & Morden, 2013). Reports show that military service members have been found in crimes that range from robbery to sexual assault and murder. These crimes have been served up with incarceration for those found with drinking problems. Ultimately, excessive drinking amongst active-duty military personnel has been associated with less productivity in assigned duties and increased medical treatment, directly related to the deterioration of military personnel’s physical, emotional, and mental states.

Illicit Drug Abuse, Pain Medication Abuse, and Psychological Distress Findings

Studies surrounding the abuse of pain medication and illicit drugs like cocaine and marijuana are directly related to the psychological distress caused by exposure to military conflict for military personnel. Additionally, statistics suggest that all these causes and factors affect military personnel’s physical, mental, and emotional state. Combat exposure leads to the development of PTSD amongst military personnel, leading to the overdosage of pain medication to repress the pain of alcoholism and illicit drug use, leading to addictions that cause major mental problems. Such mental issues include depression, major depressive disorders (MDD), PTSD, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and insomnia (NIDA, 2019). Military personnel who have these issues will not function properly in their roles in defending the country against foreign threats, leading to the deterioration of military personnel’s physical, emotional, and mental states; hence, dismissal from military service is eminent. As a way to help with understanding the results and findings from the causes and effects of alcohol and drug abuse in the US and Canadian military, the thematic analysis helps in identifying prevention, intervention, and treatment techniques and procedures to assist in alleviating the scourge that is substance and use disorders amongst military personnel.

Prevention Approach

                Prevention should be the initial step in delaying the start and process of addiction to alcohol and drug use amongst military personnel. Prevention is preferred as the initial step to curbing and alleviating substance use disorders because it minimizes diagnosis and treatment by managing SUD by considering cost and the socio-economic status of military personnel and the government in treatment strategies. Therefore, prevention approaches include protective factors, preventive activities, and implementing specific evidence-based programs for alcohol and drug abuse on military bases.

                With military service, military personnel is exposed to traumatic events that lead to service-related mental disorders, including PTSD and overdependence on alcohol, prescription drugs, and illicit drug use by military officers. Therefore, protective factors are essential in helping veterans and active-duty personnel cope with and reduce their overdependence and overindulgence of alcohol and other substances. Such include parents’ emotional and support for officers who enroll at the age of 17 to 20 (O’Brien et al., 2013). As teenagers heading into adulthood, they are excited to try everything, but such support shows them that they are not alone and will help them get rooted in their military service without looking for substitutes in alcohol and illicit drugs to fill the void. Parents should also provide spirituality and family orientation for the young soldiers ready for deployment to better connect to their society.

                Preventative activities are essential in reducing overdependence on a problem or behavior by substituting these with more creative activities. During their bonding at the military camps and bases, soldiers should engage in more collective activities such as team-building exercises that promote trust and build better bonds. This leads to accountability between them to ensure that no one falls into addiction (O’Brien et al., 2013). These activities will also help the young troopers succumb to peer pressure, avoid high-risk situations, identify and create bonds with more supportive individuals in the armed forces in their respective military camps, and learn how to regulate their emotions well and impulse control. There should be prevention programs specific to alcohol and drug abuse around military camps as they do this.

Alcohol Preventative Measures

In overseas deployment areas, alcohol pricing is very low compared to civilians charged to free; therefore, active-duty personnel will always have alcohol in the military bases. Hence, it should be issues that there should be a controlling law on the affordability of alcohol on military bases. With an increase in alcohol pricing, it is recorded that alcohol consumption will decrease around military bases, resulting in reduced to no cases of alcoholism(O’Brien et al., 2013). Secondly, alcohol available for purchase should be restricted. With some of the military officers enlisting at the tender ages of 16 and 17, putting up a higher age limit for drinking will limit their alcohol access.

Thirdly, there should be trained bartenders who serve at the military bases. Binge drinking means that military personnel has access to alcoholic beverages at any time. Therefore, with a bartender trained in an individual’s alcohol consumption, active-duty military personnel will be cut off at a certain point when they go above the legal limit of alcoholic beverages designated per person. This reduces the aggressive and problematic drunks that may result in fights and physical altercation (O’Brien et al., 2013). Lastly, veterans should have a drinking limit to help with accidents caused by driving under the influence. Enforcing policies like these will help in reducing alcohol-influenced accidents and fatalities.

Other Drug Preventative Measures

Firstly, there should be prescription regimes towards pain medication and therapeutic sedatives to injured military officers. Prescription regimes help y controlling the storage, safety, and distribution of prescribed medication. Even on military bases, injured officers should always get their medication from a doctor or nurse in charge instead of having tablets of opioids while still on active duty (O’Brien et al., 2013). Drug dispensation regulation will help regulate the dependency on drugs to take care of the pain and let their bodies heal without any form of addiction, making them duty-ready and preventing dishonorable discharge because of drug addiction.

Secondly, education is essential in drug prescription. Educating active duty military personnel on the dangers and consequences of drugs’ overdependence will help streamline their goals towards bettering their bodies than using drugs (O’Brien, Oster, Morden, et al., 2013). Thirdly, monitoring will help the military doctors learn which pain medication may cause over-dependency; therefore, substitutes to the addictive drugs will help with pain management and better treatment. Additionally, enforcing policies that allow the proper disposal, monitoring, and dosage of prescription drugs around military officers will help with consistent implementation and increase addiction management effectiveness.

Intervention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the Military

Responding to the excessive alcohol consumption by veterans and active-duty military personnel, alcohol screening should be used. The screening will help intervene in strategies to avoid risky and unhealthy drinking habits (Teeters et al., 2017). Ultimately, the screening will reduce alcohol use disorders amongst military personnel.

Responding to prescription drugs and illicit drug interventions, cognitive-behavioral therapies should be directed towards the management of SUDs. Cognitive-behavioral interventions will identify and modify behaviors associated with overdependence on prescribed medication (NIDA, 2019). These interventions include rehabilitation of addicted individuals and reinstituting them in less volatile areas that will help in their recovery that helps them back into military service. Finding substitutes like nicotine patches for chain smokers will help manage drug abuse amongst military personnel.

Treatment of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the Military

Treatment of alcohol and substance use disorders involves pharmacotherapy. Medication prescribed and monitored will reduce withdrawal symptoms in individuals diagnosed with SUD (Teeters et al., 2017). Ultimately, medication will help reduce cravings for illicit drugs like marijuana and increase resistance against military officers’ relapsing.

Treatment also involves counseling and rehabilitation of addicted military personnel. Through rehabilitation and counseling, military personnel suffering from PTSD from combat exposure will have a chance to concentrate on addressing PTSD, depression, and stress. This helps them also come to terms with their addiction, leading to them seeking help to break the cycle (Thomas, 2019). Drug testing will help in getting more military personnel on their addictions and SUDs. After drug testing, military clinics also offer detox programs that help reinstate substance use back to the military after disciplinary actions. Ultimately, treatment programs for military personnel will include addressing the trauma and other mental disorders that lead to their substance and alcohol use while helping recuperate.

 

 

 

 

Discussion

The research indicates that alcohol and drug abuse directly influences and affects the mental, physical, and emotional deterioration of military personnel diagnosed with SUDs. Combat exposure is the biggest factor influencing the excessive indulgence in alcohol and drug use amongst military personnel. PTSD acquired from stressful situations will lead to insomnia and a need for military personnel to repress some symptoms that include flashbacks to traumatic events and insomnia. Hence, it is needed to know how to best promote prevention, intervention, and treatment techniques to better military personnel.

Implications

The continued availability of alcohol at low prices and free at military bases is a growing concern towards the increasing binge drinking that leads to excessive drinking; hence, alcoholism amongst military personnel (Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, 2018). Also, not monitoring the dosages of prescribed pain medication for injured active-duty military personnel will increase drug abuse and illicit drug use among military personnel. Perhaps the most pressing issue at hand is the effects of the continued alcohol and drug abuse even after military personnel has been discharged from the service leading up to issues like domestic violence, suicide, homelessness, financial problems, and health issues. Therefore, these issues arising from SUDs should lead to better interventions, preventative methods, and treatment options for military personnel diagnosed with SUDs.

 

Future Research

Arising issues from excessive alcohol and drug abuse in the military stem from the untreated PTSD that arises from exposure to combat, exposing young soldiers to traumatic, stressful situations. Therefore, future research should integrate treatments that are evidence-based on PTSD treatments (Teeters et al., 2017). This way, PTSD will be treated first before the effective diagnosis of why there is now a substance use disorder in military personnel. Ultimately, diagnosing and treating PTSD as an underlying issue to substance use disorders will help open doors to better treatment methods for treating depression, anxiety, and eventually SUDs.

Recommendations

Understanding the causes of alcohol and drug use in the military will help create better judgments and interventions towards creating treatment and prevention procedures that allow clinics, rehabilitation centers, and physiotherapy centers. Ultimately, understanding the causes influence better treatment strategies and decrease the effects and consequences of alcohol and drug use amongst military personnel.

Limitations to the Study

Firstly, as a conceptual research study, the framework was rigid. There were issues in implementing and incorporating new ideas to better analyze and interpret data and research. Secondly, the use of thematic analysis proved a problem when it came to its flexibility. The thematic analysis showed inconsistencies with a lack of coherence when developing themes as most themes borrowed from each other, all stemming from PTSD and combat exposure as the root for all causes and consequences of alcohol and drug abuse amongst military personnel on active duty and veterans at home.

Conclusion

Alcohol and drug abuse amongst active-duty military personnel, veterans, and dishonorably discharged military officers in the US and Canadian armies rose. Factoring greatly to the increase in alcohol and substance use disorders is untreated PTSD contracted from exposure to combat areas that are stressful and highly volatile leading to mental issues. Leading up is the uncontrollable overdependence of alcohol and drugs by military personnel because of their ready availability. This results in mental and health issues, homelessness, suicide, and financial issues that have been on the rise, especially with veterans. Therefore, interventions and preventive activities limit access to drugs and alcohol by military personnel leading to better treatment methods to rehabilitate military personnel with SUDs. Therefore in the future, better treatment should start with addressing traumatic events and PTSD as underlying issues to the continued overdose of prescription medication and excessive binge drinking leading to alcoholism. These approaches are used to help alleviate the scourge; that is, military personnel’s substance use disorders, military service will be more effective in the US and Canada.