Veterans And Addiction: Scope, Risks, And Treatment

Returning home from military service comes with its own set of challenges, and for many veterans, those challenges open the door to substance use. Combat exposure, the stress of leaving loved ones behind, and the difficulty of readjusting to civilian life can all play a role, and the result is that veterans face higher rates of substance use disorders than the general population.

The good news is that awareness around this issue continues to grow, along with the resources available to address it. Several addiction treatment programs now exist specifically for veterans and active-duty service members, offering a path toward recovery that’s built around their unique experiences and needs.

The Scope Of Veteran Substance Use

About 11% of veterans presenting for first-time care at VA facilities meet criteria for a substance use disorder, compared to 8.6% of the general population. Among veterans with SUDs, more than 80% struggle with alcohol, while about 27% struggle with illegal drugs. Alcohol is the primary substance for 65% of veterans entering treatment, almost double the rate among civilians.

Resources For Veterans Overcoming Substance Abuse

If you’re a veteran dealing with substance use, or your loved one is going through addiction, there are several practical resources at your disposal. These resources include government-provided programs, types of treatment programs ideal for veterans, and organizations that can provide education and skills.

VA Mental Health And Substance Use Resources

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides several resources for active-duty members and veterans. Remember, whether you’ve seen combat or not, these services are set aside to benefit you no matter what involvement you had with your level of service.

Explore the following mental health and substance use treatment options available at more than 1,200 VA health centers in the U.S.

• Counseling: The VA provides therapy for individuals, families, and groups overcoming addiction.
• Addiction Treatment Programs: Find detox, outpatient, inpatient, residential, relapse prevention, substance abuse and PTSD-specific services, and other programs for substance use.
• Medication: the VA can help you to get medications to ease cravings, withdrawal, and prevent relapse for opioid, alcohol, and tobacco addictions.
• Opioid Treatment Programs: Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is available to veterans for the treatment of opioid use disorders.

Treatment Outside The VA

If there is not a VA treatment center close to you, or you need to seek treatment outside the VA, there are plenty of options for substance abuse recovery. Many treatment centers have programs dedicated to treating veterans and meeting their unique needs, honoring their circumstances and recovery goals.

You can find each of the treatments listed above and more at a number of rehab facilities in your state.

Organizations To Support Veterans Recovering From Addiction

As you continue your search for the best plan of action moving forward, lean on the resources and organizations that aim to serve veterans.

These include:

• VA helplines: helplines are available for homeless veterans, women, veterans in crisis, war vets, and friends and family members of veterans.
• Military OneSource: this is a free support that connects veterans and their families with a variety of resources, including those for mental health, substance abuse, and suicide.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: call this free, 24/7 hotline if you or your loved one are having suicidal thoughts or actions.
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline: free, confidential guidance on finding treatment for addiction or mental issues.
• The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: this organization provides programs, education, community, and other services for suicide prevention across the U.S.
• Vets4Warriors: this is a peer support network that provides free confidential phone, chat, text, and email conversations between veterans.

The Most Commonly Abused Substances Among Veterans

Alcohol, prescription opioids, marijuana, and illicit drugs are a few of the most frequently reported substances of abuse.

Veteran Alcohol Addiction

The most prevalent SUD for veterans is alcohol use disorder. Despite efforts from leadership to curb alcohol consumption, deep-seated cultural norms are not easy to stop.

Researchers have found that alcohol is a large component of relaxation, socializing, and recreation for military personnel. This cultural norm can quickly lead to dependency for many veterans who return home and must relearn old ways of life, find employment, build relationships, and face other barriers to reintegration.

Veteran Opioid Addiction

Two-thirds of veterans report experiencing pain, and more than 9% report severe pain, putting many at risk for opioid misuse. Studies show 13% of veterans prescribed opioids for pain go on to develop an opioid use disorder, and veterans remain twice as likely to die from accidental opioid overdose compared to non-veterans.

Risk Factors For Substance Abuse Among Veterans

The numbers described above come from the physical and emotional stress that veterans experience when compared to the general U.S. population. Risk factors for addiction among veterans can include mental illness, suicidal thoughts, physical and emotional abuse, and other problems.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

About 20% of veterans with PTSD also have a substance use disorder, and 63% of recent Afghanistan/Iraq veterans with a substance use disorder meet PTSD criteria. Research also shows PTSD increases the risk of developing a substance use disorder by 340%.

Suicidal Thoughts And Ideations

In 2023, 6,398 veterans died by suicide, 44 fewer than the previous year, with pain identified as the most common risk factor among veterans who died by suicide between 2021 and 2023. Veterans with substance use issues are twice as likely to attempt suicide, and co-occurring disorders are present in 55% of veteran suicide deaths.

Other Mental Health Disorders

Between 82% and 93% of veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq with a substance use disorder had at least one co-occurring mental health condition, and veterans with an SUD are three to four times more likely to be diagnosed with depression. Anxiety, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury are also common among veterans who’ve experienced combat.

Sexual, Verbal, Or Emotional Abuse

In one study, 31.5% of female military personnel and 27.5% of male military personnel reported experiencing physical violence from a partner. Substance use co-occurs in 40% to 60% of IPV incidents, and is a major factor in both triggering and worsening these situations for those involved.

Unforeseen Difficulties With Reintegration

When returning home, veterans are met with several challenges that make for an uphill battle to reintegration.

These include:

• homelessness
• difficulty finding or sustaining employment
• mental illness
• substance abuse
• troubles with relationships (i.e. with family members, spouses, children, or friends)
• difficulties with upkeeping life skills and self-care (such as driving, getting enough sleep, etc.)

Running into any one of the above challenges can be a trigger for substance abuse. Because stress is one of the primary motivating factors in addiction, these life stressors can increase the risk of abusing substances significantly.

How To Help Veterans Moving Forward

Change can only begin once we recognize the gaps in the system, veterans who don’t know their resources, believe they can’t get help, or struggle silently, and take active steps to address them. Moving forward, it’s important that veterans are made fully aware of every resource available to them in regards to their mental health and issues with substance misuse.

Mental health treatment should be made an integral aspect of every veteran’s primary care plan, as each service member has a unique lived experience that needs to be cared for in some capacity. Preventing substance use disorders in the veteran community takes peer support, access to proper healthcare and treatment, screening for service members, and a focus on PTSD treatment.