Veterans, mental health & substance use disorders

Both the Werner and Emerson papers suggest the need to develop more tailored and comprehensive assessment methods, and develop more effective interventions to help reduce the heavy burden of trauma, PTSD and AUD in racial and ethnic minority communities. Paired samples t-tests revealed that veterans, on average, produced higher scores on symptoms of adult ASPD, major depression, PTSD and alcohol abuse (see Table 1). Drug abuse severity scores did not differ significantly between veterans and partners. Many veterans find it harder to connect with family and friends while struggling with both PTSD and alcohol.

Inpatient Alcohol and Drug Rehab in Washington State

The stress of living with someone who is drinking excessively and possibly also dealing with other issues can lead to separation, divorce, or intentional isolation. Someone who continues to drink despite facing negative consequences for their physical or mental health. PTSD can cause veterans to adopt negative or paranoid feelings about people, relationships, places, or ideologies.

PTSD: National Center for PTSD

Two OEF/OIF veterans received VALOR therapy in two separate case studies.49 These veterans greatly reduced their alcohol use at the start of treatment or shortly before beginning the treatment, and their PTSD symptoms substantially decreased over the course of treatment. In one case study of an OEF/OIF veteran, researchers examined the effectiveness of concurrent treatment of PTSD and SUD using prolonged exposure (COPE) therapy.45 COPE involves 12, 90-minute sessions that integrate relapse prevention with prolonged exposure therapy. The veteran who received the therapy reported reduced alcohol use throughout treatment, scored in the nonclinical range for PTSD at the end of treatment, and maintained treatment gains at a 3-month follow-up. Recommended psychotherapies include prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.

The Link Between Veteran PTSD and Substance Abuse: Understanding the Struggle

Measurement based care (MBC; 29) or the use of patient-reported information collected as part of routine care, can be used to inform clinical care and shared decision making, individualize treatment, and assess progress toward recovery goals. The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) are evidence-based measures that screen for PTSD. The PCL-5 is offered in past-month and past-week versions and provides PTSD symptom severity. The Brief Addiction Monitor (BAM) is a questionnaire that assesses alcohol and substance use, risk factors, and protective factors with 7- and 30-day versions (30). The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT; 31), Drug Abuse Screening Tool (DAST; 32,33), and the Substance Use Inventory (SUI; 34) are brief measures to assess recent use, some of which also assess functional impacts of use.

Traumatic events can range from physical events like physical violence, to emotional or psychological, such as manipulation or emotional abuse at the hands of a loved one. The current study was designed to build upon previous work and examine psychosocial wellbeing and adverse experiences of post-9/11 veterans with PTSD/SUD. Given these findings, it would be important for health care professionals and policy makers to work toward minimizing risk for homelessness, violence, and suicide among these veterans. Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are often not offered exposure therapy for PTSD due to concerns that symptoms may worsen.

Some veterans may turn to substances, including alcohol, when they return home from service. Alcohol can help numb the pain of a mental, emotional, or physical injury, and this can eventually lead to dependence and additional health issues. If you notice any of these warning Alcoholics Anonymous signs, it’s important to get help immediately. Sometimes this may involve family or friends staging an intervention to talk about their concerns and possible treatment options.

A series of separate hierarchical regressions tested whether treatment condition (COPE vs. SS) predicted symptoms of PTSD, alcohol use, or depression at session 5 while adjusting for session 3 (pre-exposure session) symptoms. A logistic regression tested whether treatment condition (COPE vs. SS) predicted the presence of SI at session 5 while adjusting for session 3 SI. For example, Step 1 included session 3 PTSD symptoms as a covariate, Step 2 included the treatment condition (COPE or SS), and the dependent variable was session 5 PTSD symptoms. We examined session 5 as a dependent variable to determine whether there were ptsd and alcohol abuse effects of beginning exposure for the COPE participants and adjusted for session 3 as it was the most recent data point we had for participants prior to beginning exposures.

Study sheds light on interplay among PTSD, combat experience, alcohol use

• Other limitations were related to the composition of the sample that comprised trauma-exposed veterans and their cohabitating partners so it is unclear to what extent results will generalize to other types of couples or trauma populations.
• The combination of PTSD and alcohol abuse can be difficult to overcome and can severely impact a veteran’s well-being.
• These healthy habits provide ways to deal with stress without relying on drugs or alcohol.
• With the right support, treatment, and determination, veterans can overcome the challenges of PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder, reclaiming their lives and finding new purpose in the process.
• Two of these studies used the alpha-adrenergic medication prazosin and one study used the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist aprepitant in a proof of concept laboratory study.

We will delve into the hidden epidemic of alcoholism among veterans, exploring its causes, consequences, and the glimmer of hope that shines through treatment and support. Alcohol Addiction Center is a free, web-based resource helping to bring education and information to the world of alcohol addiction. It is our hope that with increased awareness, more and more people will get help with their alcohol problems. Veterans who live in El Paso or surrounding areas can request services from Aliviane; they will receive intervention, treatment, prevention and recovery support services. At St. Joe’s, veterans with AUD http://jjbeck.net/2022/06/sober-living-homes-how-it-works-eligibility-how-to/ work individually, in group sessions and in family sessions to address their addiction and its causes. While in residence at St. Joe’s, veterans are also encouraged to explore their spirituality.