Military personnel and their families are under continuous strain because of the still in progress operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Combat exposure, physical injuries, multiple and long deployments, event PTSD and TBI are among the adversities that experienced by many soldiers. Another less common but integral concern is the use of drugs among soldiers. Generally, illicit drug use and tobacco use among soldiers tend to reduce over time. However, at the same time, the use of alcohol and prescription drugs among soldiers tends to increase to an abusive extent. In fact, the U.S. military personnel were using twice as many prescription drugs in 2005 than they were using in 2002, and in 2008, they were using twice as many prescription drugs than they were using in 2005 ("2008 department of," ).
Among soldiers, the most widespread problem is the abusive use of alcohol and it is a problem that poses a considerable health risk. Approximately 25% of all soldiers who return from deployment tend to meet the criteria for alcohol abuse within three to four months of their return. Moreover, these 25% of soldiers are at a higher risk to indulge in harmful behaviors related to alcohol abuse, such as driving while intoxicated, using illicit drugs, etc. A small number of soldiers are actually referred to alcohol treatment even though many of them often report alcohol concerns. Based on research findings, the process of screening needs to be improved and care for problems related to alcohol abuse should be accessible to soldiers who return from combat deployments.
What Drugs Are Most Commonly Used Among Soldiers?
Soldiers tend to gravitate to the use of various illicit drugs during their deployment. Marijuana is perhaps the most used drug among soldiers. For soldiers, obtaining marijuana is comparatively easy ("What dopes! photographs," 2012). They use the drug to temporarily escape the stress that war tends to bring. To stay alert, many soldiers begin using stimulants; however, in times of emergency, soldiers put themselves at risk of ending up becoming weak as a result of “crash” that follows once the effects of these drugs wear out.
What Are The Reasons Behind Heavy Drug Use Among Soldiers?
Presently, there are various reasons why soldiers are using drugs to such a great extent. Insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq are constantly targeting the soldiers that serve there. To cope with this stress in the field on a daily basis has led many soldiers to start self-medicating themselves. Even though, the military has placed a “zero tolerance” policy for quite a few years, drugs still seem to be greatly accessible to soldiers. Soldiers who are in service usually experience intense action for short periods of time, but for long periods of time they often get bored and remain inactive. Soldiers turn to using drugs to fill their time during these long periods of time. During patrols or nighttime duty, soldiers also tend to use stimulants to keep themselves more alert.
How Is The Military Affected By Drug Use?
The battlefield is one of those places where drug abuse is very dangerous. Soldiers create numerous potential problems for themselves when they indulge in substance abuse during wartime. Reaction times are slowed down by drug use, and with slower reaction times, soldiers end up putting their lives at risk on the battlefield. It puts them at greater risk of getting injured or separated from their fellow soldiers or troops. Ultimately, their comrades in arms are the ones that soldiers have to rely on. Using drugs impairs the judgment of soldiers, putting the men and women with them, their comrades, at risk as well. Chain of command and order are key elements of a military unit. Using drugs may cause chaos or conflict to arise in a military unit, preventing it from functioning properly.
When comes to drug abuse, the resolve of the armed forces is not as strong as their determination and will to serve their country. Although soldiers on active duty have access to a few drug rehab programs, usually drug abuse leads soldiers towards getting dishonorably discharged from the military. This is why the use of drugs among soldiers is such an integral problem.
References
2008 department of defense survey of. health related behaviors among. active duty military personnel. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.tricare.mil/tma/2008HealthBehaviors.pdf
What dopes! photographs of american soldiers posing with marijuana in afghanistan trigger military investigation. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2112270/america-soldiers-posing-weed-afghanistan.html
