A study conducted by the American Technical Assistance Corp. in McLean Virginia, in 1974, enlisted 140,000 men and 10,000 officers as excessive consumers of alcohol. Some others were reported to abuse different prescription and illegal drugs.
Currently, the returning soldiers from Afghanistan and other parts of Iraq are fighting addiction to strong painkillers that are deemed necessary during early days of an injury. In fact, Percocet and OxyContin use increased by 70 percent after the war. According to the Army Center for Substance Abuse Programs, 1,254 soldiers had to leave service for reasons related to drug abuse in 2008 alone. This is a large number considering the fact that every possible avenue of help is explored and tried before a soldier is dismissed from the army.
Army officials consider their treatment adequate even though Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) is understaffed. The actual number of recruited staff is much below the requisite number of 90 counselors. This is one reason why a number of Army Substance Abuse Rehabs have come into existence in the recent times in different parts of United States. These army substance abuse rehab centers concentrate on providing the army personnel and their family members with the best possible de-addiction programs.
Prevention is considered as the best tool against substance abuse.This is one reason why army commanders refer the soldiers to various sources of education. These commanders also have the responsibility to recognize the signs of alcoholism or addiction to drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, OxyContin and any other substance that alters the consciousness. Many of these commanders have suggested that officers prone to addiction should be kept away from activities which involve the consumption of alcohol. These commanders also encourage activities such as media events, athletic games and hobbies for such individuals. It is the duty of the Commander to refer the addicted officer to a suitable army substance abuse rehab.
The Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) is a responsibility of the commander who utilizes prevention, clarifies anti-drug and alcohol requirements, drug tests, and conducts classes to inform and assist the soldiers. A soldier enters the ASAP voluntarily, upon referral by the commander or in response to a positive urinalysis or breathalyzer test for alcohol. Additional circumstances requiring referrals are discovery through a routine medical exam and when a soldier is charged or involved in a drug or alcohol related crime.
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) affects a large group of returning soldiers who have witnessed the cruelty and disasters of war. For many of these brave men and women, treatment will be needed indefinitely. For others a short outpatient course of counseling can put them on the road to adjustment. It is likely that more rehab centers for drug abuse and alcoholism will be opened as long as the returning veterans need them.
Unfortunately, not all can resume a normal life even after intense rehab treatment. But, unlike the Vietnam veterans whose needs were never met, these soldiers can certainly receive at one of the army substance abuse rehabs to recover from the trauma of war.
