Startling Number of Alcohol-Related Problems Among New Veterans

Troubling Alcohol Use Found Among Young Veterans; New Study Finds Disturbing Risk of Binge Drinking Among Servicemembers

August 13, 2008 -- NEW YORK - Yesterday, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) released a study on alcohol abuse among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. According to the study, combat exposure significantly increases servicemembers' risk of heavy drinking, binge drinking and other alcohol-related problems. Young servicemembers are at the highest risk of developing these problems following their deployments. JAMA also found, "Those born after 1980 were at 6.72 increased odds of new-onset binge drinking."

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's first and largest nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, responded to the findings:

"The high risk of alcohol abuse among veterans with combat exposure and young veterans reflects the tremendous strain these men and women are under," said Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "In particular, reserve component troops experience an extremely abrupt transition from the battlefield to their civilian lives. They are in Baghdad one week and Brooklyn the next- an incredibly difficult adjustment."

"As the political conventions approach, Senators Obama and McCain must address these critical issues and outline plans to ensure that veterans receive adequate screening and treatment for the psychological wounds of war," said Rieckhoff.

The study sampled over 40,000 active duty, Reserve, and National Guard troops. Of the more than 10,000 participants who had been deployed, more than 5,000 had experienced combat. An abstract of the JAMA study can be found here.

Source: IAVA