Drug Addiction and Veterans: Dealing With Trauma and Adjustment
Recently in USAToday, an article discussed that there is an increase in both alcohol abuse and drug substance excesses in those returning from war. This is understood as a combination of post traumatic stress issues, re-adjusting to home life and possible unemployment and daily coping problems. Sadly, many feel that jail is used as a way to deal with these issues rather than treatment for the drug problem or alcohol drinking issue.
Post traumatic stress disorder is serious and it can lead to ways to numb the page, wandering, homelessness and the inability to feel motivated to go to work. By treating the trauma itself, one is in a much better position to control alcohol drinking problems and drug addition excesses. Often in our society we don’t get to the root of problems, but just try to treat the symptoms. However, this is like cutting branches of the tree shorter but leaving the roots intact. As a therapist, I see how important it is to get to the underlying grounds of anxiety that lead to smoking pot, resorting to alcohol intoxication and other related drug substance abuse patterns.
Looking at and addressing underlying anxiety with healthier patterns of eating, exercise, meditation and support groups helps someone to pick up the pieces again. The stats say that attending treatment programs for alcohol dependency has doubled since the year 2003 for those in the army. It is good that there is treatment available because the increase in binge drinking is quite high. People are under tremendous amount of stress today and even if one isn’t unemployed, many people in one’s family have issues finding work.
It is important to address the issues vets have to deal with so that mental health can be optimized . It is also hard often for people to ask for help and often we try to keep things secretive to not open up pandora’s box.
Hey, my bf came back from Iraq and I’m not sure how to get him to stop drinking and smoking pot. Should he go to a dual diagnosis treatment center because he had depression in 11th grade. His mom thought we should do an alcoholic intervention but I think he’d get very angry. He has a lot of pride
My brother was in Vietnam and to deal with a lot of flashbacks he uses pain killers and pot. I thik he needs a drug addict programs or
long term drug treatment even though he doesn’t do it every day. Does the VA cover this?
My cousin came back from Iraq and seems to have a “valium addiction” because needs it not just for sleep but during the day. I can understand that the trauma from what he saw is very difficult. I just hope that he can discontinue that drug if necessary. There must be something he can take for anxiety long term that isn’t going to be addictive.
I wonder if my mom might have a valium addiction because she has had it prescribed for years. I have a lot of respect for those who came back from overseas and have to re-adjust here with the unemployment issues. I can see how drug abuse addiction can be a great temptation. Stay strong.