Health Behavior News Service, part of the Center for Advancing Health, reports that college students who have served in the U.S. conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are more likely than their non-veteran peers to use tobacco, drink in excess and engage in other behaviors that endanger their health and safety, according to a study that appeared in the latest issue of American Journal of Health Promotion.
After more than a decade of ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, many military personnel, returning veterans, and their families are suffering from a host of mental health and substance abuse issues. To shed light on this issue, ICF International hosted a roundtable discussion on Wednesday entitled, “Addressing Substance Abuse in Military and Veterans Populations.” Among the panelists were CADCA Chairman and CEO Gen. Arthur T. Dean.
President Barack Obama signed a proclamation designating November as Military Family Month, noting that military family members "serve," too, and also require community support.
Young Marines count their reps when working out; they count their calories; they count their cell phone minutes, and now they're being asked by a newly-formed coalition to count their alcoholic beverages.
USA Today reported that about one in four soldiers admit abusing prescription drugs, most of them pain relievers, in a one-year period. That's according to a Pentagon health survey released Wednesday. The study, which surveyed more than 28,500 U.S. troops last year, showed that about 20 percent of Marines had also abused prescription drugs, mostly painkillers, in that same period.
All of us have stress in our lives, but stress means different things to different people and causes all sorts of reactions. Some of us can handle things internally, while others look for something to make them feel better, often drugs and alcohol.
A bill introduced this week by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) would make it easier for service men and women to seek treatment for drug and alcohol abuse.
Experts suggest that the U.S. will be facing increasing addiction and mental-health problems among returning veterans of the Iraq and Afghan war. All returning veterans face adjustments, but for some, dealing with traumatic experiences can lead to diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, substance abuse and addiction. These problems not only affect the individual, but can have a profound impact on families and communities.
While all returning veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars face adjustments when they return home, for some, dealing with traumatic experiences can lead to diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, substance abuse and addiction. In fact, a Rand Corp. study estimated that 18.5 percent of military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan showed signs of PTSD or depression. A CADCA TV show airing July 23 from 1-2 p.m. will explore this problem, including why some cases of PTSD go undiagnosed and what community coalitions can do to help returning vets receive the help they need.
