Alcoholism in Veterans: Definition, Signs, Treatments, Etc.

If you or a loved one are a veteran struggling with alcoholism, we want you to know that you are not alone.

According to an article in the National Institutes of Health entitled Co-Occurring Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder in U.S. Military and Veteran Populations, 10% of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans have alcohol use disorder (AUD).

It’s common for current and former military personnel to turn to alcohol and other drugs to cope with the physical and psychological effects of military service.

If you or someone you love are struggling with intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, trouble sleeping, severe pains, or mental health problems, and are increasingly turning to alcohol to cope, we can help.

In this article, we will cover why veterans struggle with alcoholism, how post-traumatic stress disorder affects former military members, some alarming statistics that you should read, and what you can do to treat this condition. A better life is within reach no matter how difficult your situation is. We can get you help (even if it’s not with our clinic).

Why is the Rate of Alcoholism so High in Veterans?

Veterans experience high rates of alcoholism due to a number of unique life experiences that predispose them to developing addiction. 

These reasons include the stress and trauma of combat, military drinking culture, physical health issues they encounter due to their service, and even difficulties readjusting to civilian life after service. Many veterans we’ve spoken to say they feel a sense of loss or isolation when they return to civilian life.

No experience outside of active duty compares to what military members go through: The discipline. The structure. The camaraderie. When veterans return from military service, they often miss the tightness, trust, and social support that they once had while serving. Sometimes, they use alcohol to fill that void.

In the addiction treatment community, we have a saying:
The opposite of addiction is connection. The military provides a connection unlike anything in civilian life. Most people will never understand what it’s like to trust someone so completely. It’s the kind of bond that can only come from relying on each other in life-or-death situations. But inpatient treatment does have some similarities that strike a chord with ex-military folks. The structure and camaraderie under difficult circumstances can fill that void that many veterans yearn for.

Veterans may also turn to alcohol or other drugs to cope with the harrowing experiences of combat, death, and living their lives on the edge, never knowing where they’ll be shipped off to or what will happen. Some may drink to quiet the memories. Some may just use alcohol to numb the aches and pains they’ve developed due to fighting on the front lines.

Substance abuse is exceedingly common among veterans, and to make things worse, they often struggle in silence. 

One study from the National Institutes of Health, published in March 2023 and entitled Trajectories of Alcohol Consumption in U.S. Military Veterans: Results from a 10-Year Population-Based Longitudinal Study, found that 1 in 4 U.S. veterans consumed alcohol at the at-risk-to-excessive level.”

The problem is that drinking to cope with physical and emotional pain can quickly spiral into active addiction. And addiction does not discriminate. Military personnel are among the world’s bravest, toughest, and most physically fit individuals—but addiction doesn’t care.

How Does PTSD in Veterans Influence Alcoholism?

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition marked by intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, a constant state of “hypervigilance,” emotional numbness, and trouble sleeping. It’s very common among military veterans. 

According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs paper, U.S. Veterans Who Do and Do Not Utilize VA Healthcare Services: Demographic, Military, Medical, and Psychosocial Characteristics, about 24% of veterans have PTSD.

Before we get into this condition and how it influences alcoholism and addiction, let’s cover some of the main symptoms of PTSD first:

• Trouble sleeping: Nightmares or racing thoughts make rest seem impossible, and the lack of sleep and constant rumination leads to exhaustion. Some veterans feel like they can’t think, talk, or work simply because they don’t have the energy.

• Flashbacks: Flashbacks are sudden, vivid memories that pull veterans back into past traumas. It could be back to combat, back to an injury, or back to a trauma that happened before service. If you or someone you know is abusing alcohol, it could be to cope with the vivid, harrowing flashbacks associated with PTSD.

• Chronic pain: Injuries often linger from service that make it difficult to get out of bed, climb stairs, hold a job, or even just walk around. Many veterans turn to painkillers or alcohol to get through the day. This leads to dependence and addiction that can only be treated with professional help.

• Anxiety: Many veterans don’t feel safe in the world anymore. Their anxiety may be triggered by crowds, loud noises, or even unexpected touches.

• Grief and loss: PTSD can often intensify emotions like sadness, grief, and depression. In fact, large numbers of veterans suffer from depression because of what they experienced on the battlefield.

• Emotional numbness: Some veterans feel disconnected, struggling to experience happiness, love, or even sadness the way they used to. This can quickly lead to substance abuse in order to “feel something”.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition that often leads to substance use. As you’re about to see, PTSD and alcohol use disorder go hand in hand. Here’s why…

Drinking provides momentary relief from the horrifying symptoms of PTSD. But over time, the person becomes dependent on alcohol to function. Soon, they can’t go a day without drinking, their symptoms keep getting worse, and they forsake treatment so they can keep drinking.

It’s a vicious, destructive cycle that you need to break immediately. As we said before, these two conditions are undeniably linked in military personnel.

According to the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD on their web page, PTSD and Problems With Alcohol Use “Between six and eight of every ten (or 60% to 80% of) Vietnam veterans seeking treatment have alcohol use problems.”

And one more thing: Drinking alcohol almost always makes PTSD symptoms worse.

Please be aware of these signs of PTSD in yourself or someone you love:

Alcoholism in Military Personnel Statistics

Before we get into treatments for alcoholism, we wanted to cover some very alarming statistics on the prevalence of alcohol use disorder in service members and veterans, both former and current (active duty military members have high rates of AUD as well).

We want to share these alcohol research statistics with you so that you know you are not alone in your struggles. This is a condition that army, navy, and air force members across the world are grappling with.

Here are some statistics on substance use disorders, alcoholism, and PTSD in service members.

Statistics from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s July 2022 study, 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Veteran Adults:

• 26.2% of veterans had a mental illness and/or substance use disorder in 2020. 
• Among veterans aged 26 or older in 2020, 1.6 million had an alcohol use disorder.

These statistics were taken from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–2023 and are available on their page Veterans’ use of alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes and other drugs:

• 33% of veterans engage in risky drinking habits.
• 46% had previously used an illicit drug.
• Among veteran men, just over a third (34%) drank over 10 standard drinks per week, just over a quarter (26%) drank more than four standard drinks in a single day at least monthly, and 16% drank 11 or more standard drinks in a single day at least yearly.

And these stats are from Penn Medicine News’ page entitled Penn Medicine Addiction Expert: Data Shows Disparities Among Alcohol Use Disorder Diagnosis Among Veterans published on May 30th, 2023, and written by Hovarth, Eric:

• 28.6 million U.S. adults ages 18 and older suffered from AUD in 2021.
• Veterans who receive care from the VA are predominantly male.
• 5 percent of veterans who enter a treatment program report alcohol as the substance they most frequently misuse (this stat was taken from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA))

NOTE: Sexual assault is scarily common among female veterans, and sexual abuse can lead to PTSD as well. If you’re a female veteran, please seek specialised treatment.

What Are the Signs of Alcohol Use Disorder in Veterans?

Signs of alcohol use disorder include a growing tolerance to alcohol, an inability to control your alcohol intake, persistent attempts to quit without success, strong cravings to drink, and increasingly negative consequences to your personal, professional, and mental health.

If you notice any of these signs of AUD in yourself or your loved one, it’s time you got help:

• Spending large amounts of time drinking, obtaining alcohol, or recovering from its effects.
• Always drinking more than they intended to (and making excuses).
• Laughing off their alcohol abuse by saying “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere” or something similar.
• Making multiple unsuccessful attempts to cut back or quit drinking.
• Strong cravings, almost compulsions, to drink.
• Excessive binge drinking several times per week.
• Decreasing performance at work or school.
• Neglecting personal, professional, or familial responsibilities.
• Continuing their alcohol misuse even when it damages relationships with friends and family.
• No longer finding joy in things that used to bring you pleasure.
• Increasingly risky behaviours when drinking.
• Needing to drink more alcohol or stronger drinks to achieve the same effect (known as tolerance).
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking.
• Unexplained anxiety, fear, or paranoia.
• Drinking in secret and lying to loved ones.
• Frequent mood swings, angry outbursts, or unpredictable behaviour.
• Showing a lack of motivation or enthusiasm for daily activities.

What Are the Treatments for Alcoholism?

The most common treatments for alcoholism include detoxification, inpatient treatment, outpatient care, and support groups. We want you to know that, if you are struggling, there is help for any condition, at any budget, anywhere on Earth. You just need to reach out. You are not alone.

It’s common for service members to go into care and emerge transformed. You can beat addiction, find love and support from people who care about you, and go on to lead a happy, fulfilling life in sobriety.

Many veterans become so fulfilled in sobriety that they don’t even want to drink. Some of the most common treatments are:

• Detox: If you’re engaging in heavy drinking, you may need complete detoxification from alcohol under medical supervision. This is where doctors in a medical facility help you ease off of alcohol using a combination of medication and therapeutic treatments. Remember, alcohol withdrawals can be fatal. You must do alcohol detox under the supervision of medical professionals.

• Outpatient: Outpatient substance abuse treatment programmes combine in-person therapy or counselling with medical treatment. You may even be able to do most of it online and not have to miss work or school. It’s perfect for busy professionals and students who are struggling with mild addiction.

• Support Groups: Support groups give veterans a place to connect with others who understand the difficulties of post-service life for military vets. Groups like AA, SMART Recovery, and veteran-specific programmes offer judgement-free support and accountability from people who’ve been through the same struggles. We’ve seen it time and time again: Talking to others who’ve walked a similar path can make recovery feel less isolating. Many groups are free and meet both in-person and online, so help is always within reach. You don’t have to fight this alone. There’s a community ready to support you.

How Can the Cabin Help Treat Alcoholism in Veterans?

If you’re a veteran struggling with alcohol use disorder or other substance use issues, the Cabin in Chiang Mai can help. Our alcohol treatment facility is open to both active service members and veterans alike.

We want to help you even if it’s not at our clinic. If you need help, contact us immediately, and we will respond as quickly as possible with the best treatment options in your area.

But if you’re willing to travel to get the best possible chance at recovering from addiction, we want to let you know about our treatment centre in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It’s the perfect place to recover, especially for former military personnel suffering from PTSD.

If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, give us a call to talk with a member of our team. It’s completely confidential and 100% free with no pressure. It’s not nearly as far away as you think either. There are direct flights from the US, Canada, the UK, and mainland Europe.

Contact us today, and we’ll be in touch within 24 hours.