Female Veterans
For servicewomen, military sexual assaults also contribute to high PTSD rates in veterans.
In a comorbidity study conducted a couple of decades ago, 52% of men and 29% of women struggling with PTSD were found to have alcohol dependence.
Unfortunately, veterans with PTSD are also in this trend, with statistics indicating that 33% of veterans getting treatment for a substance use disorder also have PTSD. The number of smoking veterans with PTSD is almost double.
Even though military women show lower rates of heavy drinking than military men, the use of other illicit drugs is comparable for both genders. However, women must deal with the extra stress and challenges of being female in a male-dominated field. Other factors that increase the chances of military women developing substance use disorders are their higher rates of depression than men, more women than men report PTSD even before entering military service, and females face sexual trauma, sexual assault, and fear of sexual harassment.
While only 1% of males report sexual assault or harassment, females report 20 to 30% of cases. Female veterans with substance use disorders are more likely to have experienced sexual abuse during childhood, domestic violence, anxiety, depression, military sexual trauma, and PTSD. Additionally, female veterans with substance abuse are at a higher rate of suicide and even death.
At La Jolla Recovery, we provide women’s rehab and attention. This makes it possible to attend to gender-specific issues and military backgrounds. We reduce the stigma of drug use and follow treatment, understanding the pain and challenges experienced during service. We also recommend healing methods parallel to treatment that can attend trauma—coming from out of states such as Texas, New York, Arizona, or Florida? Let us make California home and begin a journey toward healing at La Jolla Recovery veteran addiction rehab. We salute you and are here to help.
Chronic Pain and Brain Injury
While some of us may suffer from long-term pain, veterans are at a greater risk of developing chronic pain because of the extreme circumstances and traumatic injuries experienced in war. Chronic pain is also why many veterans fall into substance abuse. They may use opioids such as heroin to handle the pain. These are strong painkillers available only with a prescription.
There has been a sharp rise in opioid prescriptions in the recent past, which has led to addictions. A study by the Center for Investigative Reporting 6 years ago indicated almost a 300% increase in veteran opioid prescriptions in the US during the last decade. This increase resulted in twice the amount of overdose and addiction deaths among veterans compared to the average population.
People struggling with opioid addictions may face various challenges. A traumatic brain injury might trigger substance abuse, resulting from a violent shake or blow to the head. As a result, the brain collides with the skull and suffers nerve damage. They turn to alcohol and drugs to numb their pain and get pleasure.
If you or your loved one has just come out of service, here are some symptoms that may indicate an individual has a traumatic brain injury: insomnia, headaches, slow speech, amnesia, nausea, blurred vision, hypersensitivity to light, dizziness, and disorientation. A study published in the American Medical Association (JAMA) indicated that 30% of veterans deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan could have experienced a traumatic brain injury.
Most abused Substances by Veterans
Alcohol can be categorized as a stimulant and depressant, depending on consumption. If taken in small amounts, it acts as a stimulant, altering excitatory neurotransmitters. The user feels euphoric, which may encourage further drinking. In massive doses, it behaves like a depressant. It depresses the user’s central nervous system and affects inhibitory neurotransmitters. Electrical activity in the brain reduces, and as a result, the user experiences slow speech, poor balance, sluggish movements, drowsiness, and other symptoms. This is called binge drinking (taking 5 or 6 drinks on one occasion), which occurs more commonly among military people than the general population.
Veterans choose alcohol to cope with PTSD and other disorders from the war. Alcohol abuse and PTSD are closely related. The US Department of Veteran Affairs statistics indicate that 68% of Vietnam veterans seeking PTSD treatment have alcohol use problems.
Back pain, chronic headaches, and lost limbs are expected results of war. Opioids are artificial substances derived from opiates, designed to work as painkillers.
Oxycotin, Lortab, and Vicodin are some of the most popular opioid brands. These are effective in dealing with different types of pain. Nevertheless, they are very addictive. In many cases, veterans start abusing opiates while still on active duty. When they get hurt, they go for opioid pills to relieve them. Before they realize it, they develop an addiction to these painkillers, such as heroin, even after leaving the military. It is not uncommon to begin with prescription opiates and use heroin later for reasons of cost and availability.
Other than pain and injuries, there are conditions that veterans face, such as anxiety and insomnia. Sedatives and benzodiazepines are the “remedy”. Benzodiazepines are psychoactive drugs that affect the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. These receptors are responsible for reducing or inhibiting brain activity. Benzodiazepines are often prescribed to tackle panic disorders, anxiety, and seizures. Sedatives and benzodiazepines should not be used for PTSD since there is little research and data on their effectiveness. Furthermore, new evidence is emerging about the possible health risks of using these medications for PTSD. These aren’t the only substances abused and may include other common drugs such as cocaine or molly.
Signs of Addiction in Vets
The use of alcohol or drugs brings a temporary feeling of happiness and excitement. This feeling is what users crave. However, once the substance effects have worn off, so do the euphoric sensations. The person with an addiction experiences apathy, depression, and listlessness. After euphoric feelings have worn off, they try to get another high. It becomes a cycle that leads to collapse.
The user has no energy or interest in interacting with relatives or friends. They also develop secretive behaviors like lying about their substance use and hiding their drugs or alcohol. If a friend or a family member has just left active military service, and you’ve noticed these symptoms, it’s always good to follow up with a professional to find out if there is a problem with addiction.
Fully residential rehab venues like ours provide a safe environment where veterans can recover without temptations. They ensure 24/7 care from qualified clinicians if withdrawal symptoms or other obstacles to recovery appear. We recommend speaking with a recovery professional for yourself or a loved one in a suitable substance abuse rehab clinic like La Jolla Recovery.
The three initial stages of the client’s stay are evaluation, detox, and therapy. The evaluation stage aims to determine a veteran’s severity of substance abuse and whether they have other co-existing conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression. Data from this assessment is then used to draw up a personal strategy. Then, detox is in order so that toxic substances are eliminated. Afterward, counseling and therapy become the focus. Some medicines used in the treatment are CBT, DBT, one-to-one counseling, group therapy, process therapy, trauma therapy, and holistic therapies such as mindfulness meditation, relaxation, and alternative treatment. An aftercare plan designed to help the patient recover will be drafted.
Suicide and Substance Abuse among Veterans
Several studies have shown links between veteran substance abuse, depression, and suicide. A study involving more than 675,000 active duty personnel determined that the rate of both substance use disorders and depression has increased among active military members. It also decided that the suicide rate across all military services in the USA is rising. We understand that many might not be open to religious or spiritual tenets in recovery, and we want you to know and relate to them. We provide recovery programs specific to your needs as a vet, including non-12-step approaches such as Practical Recovery and other atheist or non AA. As a vet giving your service, we commend you on this courageous step and are here for you.
