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U.S. Department of Defense researchers are concerned about what appears to be increasing binge drinking among soldiers exposed to combat.
The department's latest study, appearing in today's Journal of the American Medical Association, is more evidence young soldiers, especially, are feeling the effects of stress.
Social workers at Salt Lake's VA Hospital are not surprised at the department's findings. Their study says reserve and National Guard soldiers who are sent into combat are the greatest at risk.
Isabel Jacobsen, with the Department of Defense, says researchers analyzed data from more than 48,000 servicemen and women in all branches of the military.
"We saw an increased risk in newly-reported heavy weekly drinking, newly-reported binge drinking and newly-reported alcohol-related problems," she said.
Soldiers are 50 percent more likely to take up heavy drinking when they are exposed to combat. Women are at higher risk for heavy weekly drinking. Younger soldiers, those born after 1980, were at highest risk for binge drinking.
Clinical social worker Sharon Sorensen says Salt Lake's veterans hospital is treating many for substance abuse, especially those already suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders (P.T.S.D.).
"I think there is a strong correlation between trauma and substance use that we are seeing come in, a lot of dual diagnosis, P.T.S.D. combat vets with an increase in alcohol use," Sorensen said.
Sorensen says one-third of the rehab program at Salt Lake's veteran's hospital involves younger veterans who are coming back from combat in recent conflicts. But older Vietnam veterans face the same issues.
All veterans may view alcohol as a way to combat sleepless nights. "They have the hyper arousal symptoms with the P.T.S.D. It will help them to calm down, to deal with sleep issues, nightmares, to shut off emotions," Sorensen said.
Despite the often unfair stereotype of substance abuse, many veterans are coming to the VA Hospital for help.
"The courage to come in and face the issues they are struggling with is the same courage that helped them put on a uniform in the first place," Sorensen said.
E-mail: eyeates@ksl.com
