United States Troops Abusing Prescription Drugs
In our professional opinion, prescription medications are clearly the most notable development of the past decade and that is saying a lot considering the explosion of methamphetamine and continued use of crack cocaine by the men we treat. In this article, our staff writer uncovers a disturbing trend amongst U.S. troops...
Of the many tragedies associated with war, prescription drug abuse probably
ranks very low on many people’s list. The problem is very real and is growing rapidly.
Soldiers are at an increased risk of addiction due to such factors as having more and severe injuries and stress. Today, according to a Pentagon health survey recently released, about one out of every four soldiers admits to abusing prescription drugs and pain medication.
The Servicemen Drug Abuse Survey
The Pentagon survey was conducted last year and included 28,500 U.S. troops. The prescription drugs most abused were pain killers, such as Vicodin and OxyContin, although alcohol abuse continues to be a concern.
These findings demonstrate the continued effects of fighting wars in the Middle East since invading Afghanistan in 2003. Many troops have had to serve on multiple combat deployments, which enhance their risk.
The drugs that are abused by those in the military include marijuana, amphetamines, and pain relievers.
As previously stated, the most abused drugs are pain relievers and the rate is triple that of marijuana, which is next. Here are more facts:
• 15% of soldiers admitted they had abused prescription drugs in the 30 days leading up to the survey. 10% of Marines admitted to abusing prescription drugs over the same period
• 22% of soldiers admitted they had abused prescription drugs in the past year
• In 2005, the year that the last previous survey was conducted, only 4% of soldiers admitted to abusing painkillers in the 30 days leading up to the survey.
• In 2005, 10% of soldiers admitted they had abused prescription drugs in the past year
These numbers show a soaring trend in the abuse of prescription drugs by the country’s troops. Although the 2005 and 2008 surveys used different questions (2008 was more specific in regards to prescription drugs), the nature of the questions was the same.
Factors Contributing to Abuse
According to USA Today, prescriptions for pain medication for injured or wounded troops increased from 30,000 a month to 50,000 a month since the start of the Iraq war. Since more servicemen are becoming introduced to prescription drugs, the risk for dependency increases.
Stress could also be a factor and troops could be abusing drugs in order to help them cope. The survey shows that more troops are exhibiting signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. Only 7% had symptoms of PTSD in 2005, compared to 11% in 2008.
A whopping 60% of Marines between the ages of 18-35 reported that they are regularly involved in binge drinking (having more than 5 drinks in one sitting). This is greatly higher than the general civilian population. Binge drinking greatly increases your chances of abusing other drugs.
The Army is attempting to expand their treatment and education programs, but is understaffed and need to hire around 300 more drug counselors. Like everyone else, some soldiers are prone to drug dependency and addiction, but their chances are greater due to the factors mentioned above.
If you feel that you or someone you love may have developed a problem with prescription drug or alcohol abuse and want help, please call us at 866-540-5242.
- Khoi Nguyen
