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While being a member of the National Guard and the Reserves is very honorable, national guardsmen and reservists may face challenges, including substance use and mental health concerns. In this…

Military service members are at higher risk for developing substance use disorders (SUDs), including people who are or were in the Coast Guard.1 Military service can also lead to increased…

Substance abuse and addiction know no boundaries and can affect people from all walks of life. Unfortunately, this includes military personnel and veterans. There is a growing concern in the…

Substance abuse is a problem in our Armed Forces, just like it is among civilians. Each branch has unique challenges when it comes to addiction and mental health disorders, and…

Military service can be very stressful, especially for personnel deployed to active combat zones. Sometimes, service members can develop unhealthy behaviors like turning to substances while in active duty, or…

Substance Abuse in the Navy Substance abuse is an issue in the Navy, just as it is in all branches of the military and among the civilian population. However, drinking,…

After being in the military, veterans face a variety of challenges reintegrating into civilian life. This article will discuss these challenges, the existence of transition stress, and resources that are…

Nearly 60% of military service members suffering from mental health problems don’t seek help.1 The stigma against seeking help can pose a significant barrier for veterans suffering with these issues….

What is Community Care? When a veteran is seeking treatment for medical or behavioral health, the Department of Veterans Affairs provides numerous options beyond VA services through the Veterans Community…

The MISSION Act allows eligible and qualified veterans to receive treatment through community care providers when they can’t access care through a local Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility. Eligible…

With a high concentration of military personnel in Florida—both active duty and retired—Recovery First aims to provide a hub of resources for addiction treatment and recovery specifically for veterans. Substance…

Active duty members of our armed forces are more likely to encounter dangerous situations that can lead to injury. From time in combat to carrying heavy equipment or using ill-fitting…

Why Are Veterans More Likely to Smoke? Veterans of the United States Armed Forces are at a high risk of smoking cigarettes. This group struggles with higher rates of mental…

Are Female Veterans More Prone to Substance Abuse? Service women often experience unique struggles while serving their country. While female veterans face similar problems as their male counterparts—such as homelessness,…

Families of veterans can experience psychological and emotional stress while their loved one is deployed, and after they have returned home and retired from the service. Mental health disorders from…

Why Are Veterans at a Higher Risk of Suicide? Military veterans are more likely than the civilian population to develop specific mental health problems, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and traumatic…

The term co-occurring disorders—also referred to as dual diagnosis or comorbidity—refers to a diagnosis of two or more mental disorders, including substance use disorders, at the same time. As more…

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of psychiatric or mental health disorder that occurs in some people who experience a traumatic event, such as:1 War or combat. A serious accident…

Alcohol is at the top of the list of substances abused by veterans.1 Illicit drug use in the military tends to occur less often than in the civilian population due…

The short answer to the question of whether a military veteran’s insurance—if it’s provided by the federal government—will cover treatment for a substance use disorder is “yes”. But while some…

Service members in the U.S. Armed Forces sacrifice a lot to serve their country. Sometimes, those sacrifices leave them with mental health disorders like alcohol or drug abuse. Post-traumatic stress…

People with a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis may turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with the symptoms. Military veterans experience high rates of PTSD in large part due…

There is a natural tendency for people to criticize the government, and the Veterans Administration is no exception, with news stories and criticism that the agency doesn’t do enough to…

Turning to alcohol and drug use has historically been a part of military culture. It has been a concern in the US military dating all the way back to the…

Addiction rates among military members have risen steeply over the last two decades, and veterans need drug rehab programs now more than ever. The daily rigors of military life can…

Veterans suffer from addiction and alcoholism at an alarming rate, but perhaps more alarming is the widespread availability of drugs that veterans have access to. This includes street drugs like…

Treatment for substance abuse in Iraq war veterans is a subject that is often a prominent feature of veteran’s rights discussions. While the military acknowledges that many veterans are turning…

Addiction and alcoholism among Vietnam veterans has traditionally been very high since the conflict ended in 1975. War is extremely traumatic and often causes soldiers to develop Post Traumatic Stress…