Co-Occurring Help: Mental Health Issues and Drug Rehabilitation for Veterans
Even after completing deployment or active duty service, military veterans can be exposed to unique challenges that can make them more likely to suffer from mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as drug or alcohol addiction. Because of their unique needs, it’s important that they can turn to qualified, experienced experts to receive veterans drug rehabilitation that can help them overcome addiction and address mental health challenges at the same time. In California, Resurgence Behavioral Health is proud to support our nation’s veterans with a specialized treatment program. Our drug and alcohol rehab in Riverside works closely with veterans to customize their treatment plans and help them start their journey toward long-lasting recovery.
What Do Veterans Suffer from the Most?
Veterans are exposed to experiences and pressures that their civilian counterparts aren’t, and that combination of war combat, deployment time, and the return to civilian life afterward can lead to unique challenges. A 2019 Pew Research Center survey of veterans found striking differences between pre- and post-9/11 experiences, with nearly half of those who served after September 11 saying they experienced emotionally traumatic or distressing things during their service — about twice the percentage of pre-9/11 veterans. Nearly a third said they got professional counseling or help to deal with those experiences, and the same amount said they believed they suffered from PTSD.
The survey also found that close to half of veterans believed the military had adequately prepared them for the transition to civilian life after service, and close to half of post-9/11 veterans found the readjustment difficult. In their first few years after military service, more than a third of veterans reported having trouble paying their bills, and a majority of veterans said they didn’t think the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were worth fighting.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 1 in 10 veterans have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder (addiction). Veterans also experience things like homelessness, pain, and suicide risk at higher rates than the civilian population. Two-thirds of veterans report experiencing pain, and more than 9% experience severe pain. Alcohol addiction is a major problem among veterans as well, with a 2017 survey finding that veterans were more likely to use alcohol in the past month and report heavy use of alcohol than the general population. About 65% of veterans who entered a drug or alcohol rehab program said alcohol was their most abused substance — almost double the rate among the general population. Because of these higher rates of addiction and predisposition to mental health challenges, veterans’ drug rehabilitation programs are a critically important source of support for veterans.
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Why Are so Many Veterans Depressed?
Depression seems to be caused by genetic predisposition and stressful life events or physical health issues, and veterans’ unique experiences and time in combat could make them more predisposed to have this mental health condition. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says an estimated 1 in 3 veterans visiting primary care clinics in 2008 had some symptoms of depression, and 1 in 5 had serious symptoms. More than 10% had major depression, according to that estimate. Veterans mental health services are designed to address these unique needs and past experiences, especially in cases of depression, anxiety, or PTSD. However, the actual statistics show some uncertainty in the common belief that veterans’ past stress and trauma would make them more likely to have depression or anxiety. A 2014 examination of a past study by the VA and Stanford University School of Medicine, for example, found that 11 percent of veterans reported elevated levels of depression and about 10% reported higher levels of anxiety — less than the roughly 13% and 12% of self-reported rates among non-veterans.
How Many Soldiers on Average Get PTSD?
Soldiers’ experiences can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, such as military combat, serious training accidents, military sexual trauma, or experiencing or seeing other horrible or life-threatening things, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Because of these things, PTSD is slightly more common in veterans than civilians: 7 out of every 100 veterans will have PTSD at some point in their lives, compared to 6 out of 100 civilians. It’s more common among female than male veterans and 3 times as likely in veterans who deployed compared to those who didn’t deploy. The rate of PTSD differs when considering the veterans’ service eras as well, according to the VA. Let’s explore the percentage of veterans of different service eras who reported having PTSD at some point in life:
- Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom: 29%.
- Persian Gulf War (Desert Storm): 21%.
- Vietnam War: 10%.
- World War II and Korean War: 3%.
Because the data was only from veterans who were alive at the time of the study and wouldn’t include those who had died but previously had PTSD, it’s not a perfect picture of the true rate among different service eras.
What Percentage of Veterans with PTSD Have Substance Abuse?
Because PTSD symptoms can be extremely distressing, including constantly feeling tense or on edge, difficulty concentrating or feeling positive emotions, and vivid flashbacks or nightmares, some people who suffer from this disorder turn to drugs or alcohol to try to numb the pain and trauma. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 20% of veterans with PTSD also have some kind of substance use disorder. About 60% of veterans with PTSD smoke nicotine, nearly double that of those without PTSD. About 1 in 10 returning veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have a problem with alcohol or drugs, and war veterans with PTSD and alcohol problems are much more likely to binge drink. Learning about the ties between PTSD and substance abuse and why they’re related is important as they connect to the overall signs of trauma-related disorders that are addressed in veterans’ drug rehabilitation.
Get Veterans Drug Rehabilitation at Resurgence Behavioral Health
At Resurgence Behavioral Health in Riverside, California, our team of experts knows the importance of customizing addiction and mental health treatment to the specific needs of each patient. That’s why our veterans’ treatment program is based around the unique challenges and experiences that veterans have and is designed to offer the right treatment, therapy, and support they need to overcome addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders like depression or PTSD. Mental health and addiction struggles can greatly reduce your quality of life, but the good news is both conditions are treatable at our veterans’ drug rehabilitation program. Learn more about how we can help by calling us at 855-458-0050 today.
External Sources
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — PTSD and Substance Abuse in Veterans
- Pew Research Center — Key Findings About America’s Military Veterans
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — How Common Is PTSD in Veterans?
- National Institute on Drug Abuse — Substance Use and Military Life DrugFacts
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — VA Research on Depression