Military Personnel Increasingly Having Drug and Alcohol Problems

Military personnel are increasingly afflicted with problem behaviors centered around both drugs and alcohol, sources say. A new report from the Pentagon has even pegged the problem as a “public health crisis” for soldiers and their families. Numbers released by the United States Defense Department show that 20% of active-duty service members partook in heavy drinking in 2008, which was the latest year for which statistics were available. Even more shockingly, between 1998 and 2008 binge-drinking rose by 12%. Drug misuse is lower than alcohol abuse, but is rising: between 2002 and 2008, illicit drug use rose by 1.8% each year.

Like with most instances of substance abuse, the military’s drug and alcohol problem can be seen as a symptom of a greater problem. “Better care for service members and their families is hampered by inadequate prevention strategies, staffing shortages, lack of coverage for services that are proved to work, and stigma associated with these disorders,” said Charles P. O’Brien, the chairman of the study commission. Whether the drug of choice is alcohol, marijuana, meth, cocaine, ecstasy, or anything else, the best remedy remains what it always has been: a good treatment program.

If you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol addiction or dependence, you should seek help now. Thankfully, there is good help available. Detoxification and behavioral therapy have proven to be effective in treating alcohol and drug dependence. Addicts are often unable to complete treatment on their own or with family members, so it’s very important to seek the right treatment center. At Seabrook, we customize our treatment plans to individual patient’s needs, so you know the help you’re getting is right for you or a loved one. Seabrook has rehabilitation centers in New Jersey (NJ), Pennsylvania (PA), and an outpatient center in New York (NY). Contact Seabrook today for any questions about alcohol, drugs, addiction, and treatment.