Living as a family member of a military veteran brings with it challenges that profoundly affect the stability of your home environment. While deployment separates families and puts strain on personal relationships, the return home is often not as heartwarming and cinematic as you might assume it to be. 

Hardships that military members face during active duty can follow them into the household upon their return. Their struggles can manifest in a variety of ways which include post-traumatic stress disorder, trouble reentering normal society, and problems with substance abuse. In this article, we’re going to explore:

• Why so many veterans develop addiction problems after they return from deployment
• What can be done to acknowledge the struggles of veterans and address their needs
• How supportive environments have a positive impact on the quality of life for veterans

Turning To Addiction

A Response To Trauma

Many veterans who struggle with addiction have co-occurring trauma that developed as a result of their time in the military. The stressors of military life can induce certain responses from individuals who serve. Witnessing the brutality of warfare and tragic events caused by combat can often leave veterans with “shellshock,” which is just another way of phrasing post-traumatic stress disorder. 

More than 20% of veterans who receive a diagnosis of PTSD are simultaneously suffering from substance dependence or addiction. Though veterans often develop PTSD in response to enduring the effects of violent combat, it can also manifest after sexual abuse. Nearly a fourth of female veterans have reported being sexually assaulted during the duration of their service. 

No matter how the trauma originated, its existence can cause immense harm in the lives of veterans. The inability to perform daily functions due to addiction drastically impacts the quality of life for veterans and can be an easy segue into developing more psychological issues and toxic behaviors. 

Prescription Drugs

While widespread prejudice may associate addiction with illicit street drug use, the unfortunate reality is that addiction takes many forms which can range from prescription medications to alcohol abuse. 

Even if a substance poses little to no danger under normal circumstances, there is always a risk that comes with excessive consumption, and the strenuous events that occur during war can be enough to push veterans over the edge.

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When you’re ready to get clean after months or years of addiction, you should expect to experience a number of withdrawal symptoms during detox insomnia process, even when you’ve checked into a professional detox facility. While some centers can administer medication to make your symptoms less painful or jarring, no one can skip past withdrawals.

The Mentality of Addiction

There are many factors that contribute to substance abuse among veterans, such as the mental and physical traumas of war. Acknowledging the addiction and seeking out treatment for it does not always come easy, though. 

Soldiers who return from active duty bring with them the aftereffects of war, which they may try to cope with by using substances that have drastic impacts on their home environments and overall quality of life. This can put strain on personal relationships and create unhealthy households of shared trauma. 

Family members may develop their own responses to cope with the addiction a loved one is struggling with and, rather than make the situation better, the mindset of addiction spreads throughout multiple individuals and creates even more problems. Without a stable household, it becomes difficult for veterans to desire a better life free from addiction, and so it continues to harm those affected by it. In extreme cases, addiction can lead to child abuse or domestic violence.  

Concerning Active Duty 

While much of the focus of this article is concerned about veterans who struggle to manage substance abuse, the issue of addiction is not exclusive to those who have finished their time in the military. 

Soldiers who are actively deployed face the pressures of military life and the stress that comes with being exposed to combat. Drug use was commonplace since the days of the Vietnam War, where soldiers often turned to illicit substances to cope with the traumas they had to endure while serving. 

Part of the reason that many soldiers develop substance abuse problems comes from the physical injuries they may obtain while deployed, which require medication to help manage. Treating chronic pain is oftentimes difficult and can result in its own traumas for those who have been hurt during active duty. The severity of certain injuries warrants strong prescription drugs, which tend to have addictive effects that feed into the cycle of substance dependency.   

Seeking treatment while deployed is another challenge altogether. The military actively discourages misuse of substances, but zero-tolerance policies can do more harm than good. Individuals who want to get better might be fearful of retaliation from their superiors, so they opt to keep their addiction private. Policies that induce fear are counterproductive and only work to discourage treatment for substance abuse. 

Support Systems Matter

Reentering civilian life after deployment is a tough ordeal on its own, but returning to normal might seem nearly impossible if you bring a substance use disorder home with you. Addiction can cause devastating effects on the quality of your life and increase your likelihood of falling into unhealthy patterns. 

Though this outcome might seem inevitable to some, there are ways you can take control of your life and overcome addiction. Finding an effective support system is a vital part of this process. Seek out professionals who are experienced in handling cases of substance abuse and can provide you with treatment best suited for your needs as a veteran.

Where To Find Treatment

• VA hospitals
• Rehabilitation facilities 
• Specialized programs
• Counseling and psychiatric services

You Deserve A Good Life

Living with a substance use disorder is not sustainable, nor is it desirable. It damages so many important aspects of your life and can ruin perfectly good relationships, hurting those you love most. 

Overcoming addiction is a different process for everybody, but it does not have to exist as a dream outside of your reach. The path to a better life is attainable for anyone who struggles with substance abuse. If you seek help, better times are certain to follow.