Individuals who are enlisted in any branch of the military are subject to unique cultural stresses that increase the risk of substance abuse and mental health disorders. So why are veterans vulnerable to substance abuse? Deployments and military culture can be very stressful with issues like:
- The stress of the workplace, where secrets have to be kept, and deadlines can’t be missed because it could result in injury or harm to others
- The need to maintain a certain clearance which might encourage enlisted and veterans alike to avoid seeking treatment for things like PTSD or substance abuse
- The unique stress of deployments where an individual might experience or witness several traumas throughout the trip and be away from home without ongoing support
Veterans are more vulnerable to substance abuse in large part because of trauma. Twenty percent of veterans with PTSD have substance abuse issues as well. One in three who get help for substance abuse has PTSD.
Veterans Vulnerable to Substance Abuse: Facts
Ten percent of all military veterans have a substance abuse disorder, higher among male veterans than females.
Alcoholism
Not only are veterans vulnerable to substance abuse, but they are more likely to struggle with alcoholism, something that often starts during their career at a time when things like mandatory drug screening and the belief that seeking help could have an impact on security clearances make it one of the only options for self-medication to those dealing with PTSD, stress, and other issues.
Studies have found that veterans are around six percent more likely than non-veterans to use alcohol and one percent more likely to abuse alcohol.
Five percent of veterans who seek treatment abuse alcohol most frequently out of all available substances.
Opioids
Two-thirds of veterans report extreme pain, and of those, many receive opioids sometimes illegally but mostly through a prescription. Over nine percent of veterans have severe pain compared to only six percent of the general population, which means they are one-third more likely to develop an addiction to opioids or overdose from opioids.
Opioid overdose rates for veterans jumped six percent from 2010 to 2016, the majority of which were related to heroin and synthetic opioids, not prescription pain relievers.
Dual Diagnosis
There are several reasons why veterans vulnerable to substance abuse may be more likely to turn to drugs and alcohol for self-medication, and that can be the experiences within the military as well as the adjustment that comes from reintegrating into society with those experiences.
People who experience trauma or injury during combat are at a much higher risk of developing substance abuse. Veterans who have a substance abuse disorder are up to four times more likely to get a diagnosis of depression or PTSD. In fact, upwards of fifty percent of those veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder.
Getting Veteran Care for Substance Abuse
Many veterans, even today, are worried about the stigma or the potential impact on benefits that might come from getting treatment.
However, at The Differents, we provide confidential veterans drug rehab programs designed to meet the specific needs of the veteran community. With our luxury drug rehab, veterans vulnerable to substance abuse can get the help they need.
We are centered in the Reno, Tahoe area in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Our luxury facility provides addiction treatment specifically for those who have served in the military and may be dealing with co-occurring psychological or emotional struggles. We understand that it’s far too easy to turn to drugs and alcohol as a form of self-medication for the stress of being in the military, as well as untreated or undiagnosed PTSD.
Our innovative approach helps you find meaning in life beyond addiction, deal with your experiences as a veteran, and utilize tailored treatment that helps you cope with physical and emotional burdens. Moreover, we provide veterans with unique options to cover addiction treatment costs.
Overall, veterans often struggle with physical and mental scars from their time in the military. Veterans vulnerable to substance abuse may worry about the impact that seeking treatment can have or the financial burden of getting the right care. However, our facility can help with specific treatment plans for veterans.
Contact our team today at (844) 407-0461 to learn more about our cost options for veterans.
