The correlation between veterans and alcohol use disorder
This psychology 101 research paper example discusses the increased likelihood of veterans to develop AUD by describing the association between military action, trauma, and turning to alcohol as a means of coping with it. Commonly, veterans suffer from mental health issues such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression, which all greatly increase their vulnerability to AUD. Analysis: Each of these factors-perhaps also reintegration problems, feelings of isolation, and a lack of mental health facilities-adds to the risk, creating a self-sustaining cycle of alcohol abuse. The research paper, with its emphasis on recent studies and statistics, points to an imperative need for targeted interventions that include increased mental health support, as well as destigmatized outreach programs, to help veterans better transition into civilian life and lower the burden of AUD in this vulnerable population.
Octobre 29, 2024
* The sample essays are for browsing purposes only and are not to be submitted as original work to avoid issues with plagiarism.
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The Correlation Between Veterans and Alcohol Use Disorder
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The Correlation Between Veterans and Alcohol Use Disorder
Commonly, following military service, veterans experience psychological challenges
such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. These mental health
disorders can increase the risk of alcohol use disorder (AUD) as a coping strategy. The
association between military service and the psychological effects of trauma and dependence
on alcohol has been studied increasingly during recent years to understand contributing to the
higher vulnerability of veterans to develop AUD. Studies indicate that around 65% of
veterans seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder also meet the criteria for post-traumatic
stress disorder (Edmonds et al., 2022). This outcome highlights the link between
trauma-related mental health issues and the risk of AUD in this population. Thus, targeted
interventions are increasingly needed for a problem that burdens the veteran community with
considerable adverse health outcomes, impaired relationships, and homelessness associated
with alcohol misuse. This paper argues that veterans are at a significantly higher risk of
developing alcohol use disorder due to factors such as (PTSD), social reintegration
challenges, and insufficient mental health resources.
The Impact of PTSD and Mental Health on Alcohol Use Disorder
Prevalence of AUD in veterans is also significantly high compared to the general
population. It is estimated that about 11% of receiving veterans association (VA) care report
AUD compared to 5.8% among the general population (Edmonds et al., 2022). This
constitutes a disproportionately high rate of alcohol misuse in the general veteran population,
one driven, in majority proportions, by co-occurring ailments such as PTSD, depression, and
chronic pain (Edmonds et al., 2022). For example, a veteran suffering from PTSD might use
alcohol in an attempt to reduce intrusive memories, anxiety, and disturbed sleep. The point is,
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unfortunately, that alcohol may briefly alleviate symptoms of PTSD but more often
exacerbates symptoms over time in an eventual noxious cycle of reliance and dependency.
Social Reintegration Challenges
Social reintegration is another challenge that causes the high prevalence of AUD
among veterans. Most of them have challenges in readjusting back to civilian life. Troubles
readjusting causes loneliness and isolation (Panza et al., 2022). In this regard, the transition
into civilian life from a structured world of military life makes the finding of stable
employment and building of relationships, and management of unstructured daily routines, a
challenge to the veterans and thus contribute to the risk of alcohol misuse (Panza et al.,
2022). In this case, alienated veterans may use alcohol as a way to cope with circumstances.
They thereby set themselves up for AUD, which in turn further exacerbates the challenges of
readjustment and establishes a vicious cycle of alienation and dependency on alcohol.
Limited Resources for Mental Health
Limited mental health resources coupled with the stigma associated with seeking
support also contribute to the problem. The stigma associated with seeking help, often
instilled within military culture and resilience, makes many veterans even more hesitant to
seek service (Panza et al., 2022). While the VA does provide some mental health treatment,
there are occasions when these services are inaccessible or inadequate, especially in rural
settings. Having limited availability to mental health services most exposes them to high risks
of developing AUD, since the needed support and resources for the management of their
mental health conditions are not available (Panza et al., 2022). Consequently, most of them
turn to alcohol as a coping strategy. In this regard, limited mental health resources create a
vicious cycle of alcohol misuse among veterans, further intensifying their vulnerability to
long-term addiction.
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Conclusion
PTSD, reintegration challenges, and lack of access to mental health resources explain
the association between veterans and AUD. Veterans have an excessive burden of AUD, and
it is harmful to their physiological, psychological, and social well-being. This phenomenon
call for tailored interventions in improved access to mental health resources, community
support systems, and outreach programs that reduce stigma and increase the propensity of
veterans to seek help. These would improve the quality of life of veterans and allow a
sustainable transition to civilian life.
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References
Edmonds, A. T., Rhew, I. C., Jones-Smith, J., Chan, K. C. G., Nelson, K., & Williams, E. C.
(2022). Patient-centered primary care and receipt of evidence-based alcohol-related
care in the national Veterans Health Administration. Journal of Substance Abuse
Treatment, 138(5), 108709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108709
Panza, K. E., Kline, A. C., Na, P. J., Potenza, M. N., Norman, S. B., & Pietrzak, R. H. (2022).
Epidemiology of DSM-5 alcohol use disorder in U.S. military veterans: Results from
the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Drug and Alcohol
Dependence, 231(231), 109240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109240
Octobre 29, 2024
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Academic level:
Graduate
Type of paper:
Research paper
Discipline:
Psychology 101
Citation:
APA
Pages:
2 (550 words)
* The sample essays are for browsing purposes only and are not to be submitted as original work to avoid issues with plagiarism.
