Alcoholism Treatment for Soldiers and Veterans

Soldiers are often put into situations that risk their physical and emotional health. It is not surprising to learn that these men and women are often diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder or other mental health issues, and they are also susceptible to drug and alcohol abuse and addiction.

How to Treat Alcoholism in Soldiers and Veterans

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) addresses some of these concerns by introducing the “Leading Change: A Plan for SAMHSA’s Roles and Actions 2011–2014.” In this program, they identify strategic initiatives to address trauma; supporting military families; improving access to culturally competent, high-quality care; developing community, peer, and family support; building information systems; and promoting important messages about behavioral health while adjusting to changing conditions. Specifically addressing issues for the military and family of the military, SAMHSA’s program set the following goals:

• Improve military families’ access to community-based behavioral health care through coordination among SAMHSA, TRICARE, Department of Defense, and Veterans Health Administration services
• Improve the quality of behavioral health-focused prevention, treatment, and recovery support services by helping providers respond to the needs within the military family culture
• Promote the behavioral health of military families with programs and evidence-based practices that support their resilience and emotional health
• Develop an effective and seamless behavioral health service system for military families through coordination of policies and resources across Federal, national, State, Territorial, Tribal, and local organizations

Alcoholism Treatment for Soldiers and Veterans

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is conducting the Millennium Cohort Study, the largest study in military history, to follow a sample of military personnel from 2001 to 2022. Analysis of the results of the first 10 years of the study show that Reserve and National Guard personnel and younger service members who deploy with reported combat exposures are at increased risk of new-onset heavy weekly drinking, binge drinking, and other alcohol-related problems.

NIDA is working with government agencies, researchers, public health entities, and others to adapt and test prevention and treatment interventions for potential use with military and veteran populations and their families. NIDA is also working to improve veterans’ access to drug treatment while looking at the following criteria:

• Therapies for co-occurring disorders such as depression and substance abuse
• The effectiveness of early interventions for recently returning soldiers
• The impact of a youth substance abuse prevention intervention designed for parents returning from deployment

Alcohol Rehabilitation for Soldiers and Veterans

Many quality drug and alcohol treatment facilities have a staff with military service and can provide a unique level of understanding to our veterans and soldiers. Get help to learn about the most appropriate alcohol addiction treatment for you. While recovery is difficult, it is possible and we can help, so please call our toll-free helpline today. We are available 24 hours a day to answer any questions you might have about alcohol addiction treatment programs. We are here to help.