Our Veterans, PTSD, and Substance Abuse: A Problem for Whom?

Let’s paint this picture. A young man from rural America is on the verge of high school graduation. He comes from a good family and wants to serve his country. He has no prior history of substance abuse or mental health issues. He joins the military and is placed in a combatant role. He is trained with the sole purpose of projecting violence in the name of his country. He is placed in situations where he projects this violence and is rewarded monetarily, extrinsically, and intrinsically.  Traumatic events in wartime expose him to stress that causes the development of PTSD. He leaves the service and is expected to leave all else behind with little transitional aid. The distress of PTSD makes transition and life difficult. Alcohol and/or drug use helps ease some of these symptoms. He becomes dependent on alcohol and/or drugs increasing his problems and decreasing his ability to cope. This young man is now in a dangerous place mentally, physically, and socially. Is coping skills consists of compartmentalizing, violence, and substance abuse. This leads to family and legal problems.

Research concerning post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse shows a high correlation between the two. According to this research 34.5% of men diagnosed with PTSD have substance abuse problems with drugs and 51.9% of men diagnosed with PTSD have substance abuse problems with alcohol; an amount that qualifies almost have of our returning vets with PTSD suitable for substance abuse treatment. Other publications show that 3 out of 4 Vietnam veterans that have PTSD also have co-occurring substance abuse disorders.

The fact that there is such a high correlation is often not surprising, especially to those who know or deal with an individual suffering from PTSD, but many people ask why this is the case. There are four theories that researcher have established as to the high correlation between PTSD and substance abuse or alcohol and/or drug addiction. Research supports all of these theories but vary among the PTSD demographic.

The High Risk Theory states that alcohol and/or drug addiction occurs before the development of PTSD. This theory has the idea that the substance abuse itself leads to high risk activities and that one or some of these traumatic events lead to the development of PTSD. While this may be for some cases, veterans are not likely to be using alcohol and/or drugs prior to or during traumatic combat experiences.

The Susceptibility Theory states that there is something with alcohol and/or drug abuse that increases a person’s susceptibility for developing PTSD following a traumatic event. While it is not known exactly what this might be there are theories available for review upon doing further research. Substance abuse does in fact alter normal functioning and structures in the body’s systems, these facts are the grounds for the foundation of this theory.

Shared Vulnerability Theory states that some people may have a genetic vulnerability to developing both PTSD and chemical dependency following a traumatic event. According to this theory these individuals might develop both symptoms following a traumatic event while someone lacking this genetic susceptibility might not.

The Self-Medication Theory states that people dealing with PTSD use substances to cope with symptoms of the disorder. For example individuals might utilize euphoric drugs to deal with depression or a depressant such as alcohol or benzodiazepines to deal with anxiety. Either way these individuals self-medicate to deal with the distress of PTSD. This author believes, based on actual conversations with veterans and personal experience that this is the case with most returning veterans that have both conditions.

Regardless of what theory applies to the individual suffering, there is definitely a correlation between substance abuse and PTSD; many of these with our returning veterans. Often individuals do find solace in using alcohol and drugs in coping with the distress of PTSD but they will ultimately find they have only increased their problems over time. These individuals will develop chemical dependencies that are difficult to control. What at one time was a single issue to deal with multiplies.

PTSD in our veterans has been shown to exhibit itself through difficulty controlling anger, irritability, self-medicating with alcohol and other drugs, and reckless and high risk behaviors; an already concerning array of problems that are only exacerbated by dependency to alcohol and drugs. Now, layer this with a decreased inhibition and altered moral state that is constructed in the mind of every combatant and more problems arise. This is an individual in dire need of comprehensive care! Yet, so many go untreated.

Why are there so many suffering veterans? Do they lack the desire to get better? Do they lack the knowledge to understand what is going on? Are we as a society not doing our part? It is vital that these individuals seek services through the VA or other entities capable of handling both substance abuse disorders and PTSD.

There is help available for our veterans. Simply understanding what these veterans face and passing that information on might mean more individuals who seek treatment for these problems, and ultimately improve their quality of life; in which they so deserve.  These individuals are not treated appropriately when faced with legal problems or those that do not completely understand what they are dealing with. Pass this on so that we might fight for those that have done so for us.

www.MidwestInstituteforAddiction.org

www.SoberWay.org