What Are The Health Risks Associated With Substance Use In The Military?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The “invisible wounds” of military service and combat that may contribute to increased substance use include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and traumatic brain injury . Rates of depression are 5x higher among military service personnel than the civilian population.

What are the effects of substance abuse on the personal health?

These health effects may occur after just one use. Longer-term effects can include heart or lung disease, cancer, mental illness, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis , and others. Long-term drug use can also lead to addiction. Drug addiction is a brain disorder.

What is high risk substance use?

What is high-risk substance use? For the purposes of addressing HIV and STD prevention, high-risk substance use is any use by adolescents of substances with a high risk of adverse outcomes (i.e., injury, criminal justice involvement, school dropout, loss of life).

What percentage of veterans suffer from substance abuse?

Overall, about 1 in 15 veterans had a past year substance use disorder, whereas the national average among persons aged 17 or older was about 1 in 11, or 8.6 percent.

What population of veterans is at highest risk for developing substance use disorders?

3 Consistent with the general population, alcohol and drug use disorder diagnoses are more common among male than female veterans (10.5% current alcohol use disorders and 4.8% current drug use disorders among male veterans ; 4.8% current alcohol use disorders and 2.4% current drug use disorders among female veterans) ...

What drugs are banned in the military?

  • Acacia Rigidula. Acacia Rigidula. Image: wikimedia. ...
  • Aconite. What is it? ...
  • Aegeline. What is it? ...
  • Aromatase Inhibitors. What is it? ...
  • BMPEA. What is it? ...
  • Cannabidiol. What is it? ...
  • DMAA. What is it? ...
  • DMBA. What is it?

What drugs are veterans addicted to?

  • Painkillers (Lortab, Vicodin, OxyContin)
  • Benzodiazepines (Ativan, Valium, Xanax)
  • Sedatives (Ambien, Lunesta)
  • Beta Blockers (Inderal, Cardicor, Tenormin)

What are the causes and effects of drug abuse?

Drug abuse can affect several aspects of a person’s physical and psychological health. Certain drugs can lead to drowsiness and slow breathing , while others may cause insomnia, paranoia, or hallucinations. Chronic drug use is associated with cardiovascular, kidney, and liver disease.

What are the ways of preventing drug abuse?

  • Understand how substance abuse develops. ...
  • Avoid Temptation and Peer Pressure. ...
  • Seek help for mental illness. ...
  • Examine the risk factors. ...
  • Keep a well-balanced life.

How does drugs affect your life?

Studies show that drug use increases your risk of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and psychosis. People with mental health issues also have a higher rate of drug use problems.

What are examples of risk factors?

  • Negative attitudes, values or beliefs.
  • Low self-esteem.
  • Drug, alcohol or solvent abuse.
  • Poverty.
  • Children of parents in conflict with the law.
  • Homelessness.
  • Presence of neighbourhood crime.
  • Early and repeated anti-social behaviour.

What can lead to addiction?

  • Family history of addiction. Drug addiction is more common in some families and likely involves genetic predisposition. ...
  • Mental health disorder. ...
  • Peer pressure. ...
  • Lack of family involvement. ...
  • Early use. ...
  • Taking a highly addictive drug.

Which is an important risk factor for drug abuse?

Risk Factors Domain Protective Factors Early Aggressive Behavior Individual Self-Control Lack of Parental Supervision Family Parental Monitoring Substance Abuse Peer Academic Competence Drug Availability School Anti-drug Use Policies

What happens if you test positive for drugs in the army?

A positive test result will likely result in significant administrative or disciplinary action against a military member , to include court-martial. Essentially all branches of the military have adopted a “Zero Tolerance” approach to drug use.

What happens if you do drugs in the military?

The military has zero-tolerance for illicit drug use . Testing positive for an illegal substance on a random drug screen may result in a dishonorable discharge and potential criminal charges. 6 In 2015, less than 1 percent of active-duty military service personnel across all branches reported any illicit drug use.

Why do military members drink so much?

It is not uncommon for some active military personnel to find themselves abusing alcohol to pacify post-combat stress. Although military personnel are discouraged from drinking as they risk deployment, some drink in groups to celebrate combat victories in social settings, or alone to mask trauma.

Maria LaPaige
Author
Maria LaPaige
Maria is a parenting expert and mother of three. She has written several books on parenting and child development, and has been featured in various parenting magazines. Maria's practical approach to family life has helped many parents navigate the ups and downs of raising children.