Introduction
Thesis: Substance abuse in the military is mainly caused by low family engagement issues, which is why the Army Substance Abuse Program should merge with the Army Family Advocacy Program. It should be noted that the U.S. military has a zero-tolerance policy toward drugs (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2019). However, “more than one in ten veterans have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder, slightly higher than the general population” (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2019, para. 3). The same patterns can be observed among active duty personnel as well, which is caused by the “stresses of deployments and the unique culture of the military” (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2019, para. 1). The issue can be categorized into smoking, vaping, alcohol, opioids, and illicit drugs (Chestnut Health Systems, 2023).
The Current Approach
According to Army Regulations (AR) Record Details for AR 600-85, the U.S. Army has The Army Substance Abuse Program (Department of the Army, 2020). On the basis of these policies, one approach to addressing substance abuse in the military is prevention. Education and training programs are implemented to educate military personnel about the dangers of substance abuse and the consequences of drug use. Another approach outlined in AR 600-85 is to address the root causes of substance abuse. Mental health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, can contribute to substance abuse. An additional way to combat substance abuse proposed by the Department of the Army (2020) is through drug testing. Finally, a newly added approach by Army Regulations includes treatment and support services, which are becoming more available for military personnel who struggle with substance abuse.
The Analysis of Evidence
It was found that “compared with financial distress, relationship problems, and substance abuse history appeared to have much stronger associations with suicidal behavior, as did having a diagnosis of a mood disorder, such as major depressive disorder” (Goodin et al., 2019, p. 286). In other words, the measures reliant excessively on pay increases and bonuses should not be pursued since they are not the major drivers of mental health issues and suicidality. The first category of risk factors includes background elements, such as low education, male gender, young age, unmarried, and low military rank (Brady et al., 2019). It is stated that “in terms of the military context, rates of substance abuse are greater for personnel with combat exposure and a recent or lengthy deployment” (Brady et al., 2019, p. 450). Thus, the second category of risk factors is combat exposure or deployment.
Two Courses of Action
The first course of action is that the Army Substance Abuse Program should merge or closely collaborate with the Army Family Advocacy Program. According to the Army Family Advocacy Program’s findings, long separations lead to violence and child neglect in military families (Aronson et al., 2018). Thus, the first reason is that interpersonal relationships are most important for military personnel rather than pay. The second reason is that the highest risk can be observed among young men, who did not have an opportunity to create a family of their own. The second course of action is to design deployment protocols, which include shorter deployments with more frequent returns or visits to families. Low-ranking soldiers must have opportunities to build their families and see them as frequently as possible (Aronson et al., 2018).
References
Aronson, K. R., Perkins, D. F., Morgan, N. R., Cox, C. A., & Robichaux, R. (2018). Military family advocacy in the U.S. Army: Program service outcomes and family participation. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27, 218-226. Web.
Brady, L. L., Crede, M., Harms, P. D., Bachrach, D. G., & Lester, P. B. (2019). Meta-analysis of risk factors for substance abuse in the US military. Military Psychology, 31(6), 450-461. Web.
Chestnut Health Systems. (2023). Learn the facts: Addiction. Web.
Department of the Army. (2020). The army substance abuse program. Web.
Goodin, C. A., Prendergast, D. M., Pruitt, L. D., Smolenski, D. J., Wilson, N. Y., Skopp, N., & Hoyt, T. (2019). Financial hardship and risk of suicide among U.S. Army personnel. Psychological Services, 16(2), 286–292. Web.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). Substance Use and military life DrugFacts. Web.