Skip to main content

Military Health System

MHS looks to decrease substance abuse, as numbers rose in 2020

Image of Shadowed image of person sitting at a desk with their head down. Shadowed image of person sitting at a desk with their head down

Recommended Content:

Psychological Fitness

If there is one overriding element that Navy Lt. Cmdr. (Dr.) Eric Serpico would like you to know about National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week, it’s that help is accessible, and care available.

“We will find you the correct level of care needed,” said Serpico, department chief of addiction treatment services at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) in Bethesda, Maryland. “Anything we can do to break down stigma. We collaborate with command and the service member, and there is discretion and sensitivity in the process.”

Treatment at WRNMMC includes detox capabilities, therapy and intensive outpatient services, and a psycho-education early intervention program. For longer inpatient needs, the hospital refers patients to facilities on other bases, such as those at nearby Fort Belvoir, or to civilian settings.

“Primarily in a military setting, we have seen alcohol as kind of the mainstay,” Serpico said. “But that wouldn’t preclude anyone who has used cocaine or marijuana from entering into treatment.”

Regarding what’s referred to as “illicit” drug use, the military’s zero tolerance policy has been in place for decades, but the different branches handle addiction and substance use disorder (SUD) in different ways. And there are different means to get help — via command referral, medical referral, and self-referral. Overall, the approach to care is growing and evolving, Serpico explained.   

“There’s increased sensitivity, and I would say, support,” he said. “We have seen junior enlisted to senior enlisted to officers all come through our program. They’re actually being supported by their command to attend these treatments. I do believe there’s been a shift in the culture to promote entry into our type of programs.”

Image of various types of alcohol, and how much of one equals the alcohol in another
Photo illustration by Air Force Senior Airman Aubrey White

Even those to be punished with removal from the service might still be offered treatment, Serpico added, per the discretion of the commanding officer.

In the meantime, as with the population overall, COVID-19 is wreaking havoc on the armed forces, which historically have had a large subset of heavy drinkers, doctors interviewed for this story said. In a 2019 “Health of the [Department of Defense] Force” report on behavioral health, 13.3% of active service members screened positive on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption, which records only voluntary information from subjects, often post-deployment.

“It’s very early in the process to see a pattern of how it’s currently impacting — [or] when we come out of this pandemic, what likely might be the result,” Serpico said. “We’re in a unique time period, and it can become a challenge in finding healthy coping mechanisms to use, rather than substitutes like alcohol.”

From a clinical standpoint, Serpico repeated what everyone from yoga teachers to late-night comedians have been saying since last spring: It’s a challenge to be resilient in the face of a widespread pandemic and its accompanying fear and isolation. Reaching for a bottle of the hard stuff might be easy in the short term. But it’s not going to help.

Substance abuse has some strong “co-morbidities,” or accompanying maladies, that are always a threat, such as depression and anxiety. In times of COVID-19, a source of global stress, those dangers are exacerbated even more by drug or alcohol use, Serpico said. The impacts of isolation can be felt on all aspects of personal life: relationships, career, finances, physical health, you name it.

“You can accumulate risk factors in this pandemic,” he said. “There is a susceptibility.”

Patrick DeLeon, Serpico’s deputy service chief at WRNMMC and a licensed clinical social worker, said there are about one-third more military members in treatment now than in pre-COVID-19 times.

A man drinking beer from a bottle
Stress affects everyone and sometimes the weight of everything we must deal with can be too much. There are good coping habits and there are bad ones. (Screen grab from U.S. Marine Corp video by Cpl. Mike Hernandez.)

“Many of our newer folks legitimately did not have an issue prior to March,” he said. “This is something that has spiked for them, particularly in the March-April-May early time frame, when folks were very isolated, removed from work, and just out of their rhythms, and out of their social supports.”

DeLeon stated that most of the new faces were a result of alcohol use by those forced to stay at home. And though unemployment is not an issue for active-duty service members, many had nonetheless found their identity and purpose diminished, and missed the camaraderie of normal work life. DeLeon called it, “the ripple effects of that missed human connection, that fellowship.”

While alcohol saturates the culture, there is now widespread public acceptance for the legalization of marijuana, with many states already allowing recreational use of it. Though service members are still subject to the zero-tolerance policy for cannabis, retirees and dependents could more readily develop problems with the increased ease of access. Even seemingly innocuous new products could cause problems.

“That CBD ointment or hemp body wash you got in your stocking for Christmas was a kind gesture, but it can put your career at risk,” read a note in the January 2021 edition of the Navy Drug Detection and Deterrence Newsletter. “Remember that [regulations] prohibit the use of hemp-derived products, including CBD, regardless of how it’s used and regardless of claimed THC content. Protect your career.”

Opioid use in the military remains a concern, too, said Dr. Joshua Gray, a clinical psychologist, researcher, and assistant professor at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland. Guidelines for short-term prescriptions of those highly addictive drugs have gotten stricter over time within the DOD, and though Gray said he feels the trend is in the right direction, for the many who have become addicted, it remains a challenge.

Still, alcohol is the main thread for SUD in the military.

“A large portion of the military is young men, which is the heaviest drinking group,” he said. “It’s definitely an ongoing issue. It’s not a new one, but still significant with regard to health and career implications and readiness. Something we’re focused on is, ‘How do we better catch people earlier in the process of developing an alcohol use disorder?’”

This speaks again to the much-preferred scenario of self-referral rather than showing up for treatment as ordered, or as punishment. And Gray cited a study showing there are new efforts in the Army for more confidential settings for voluntary treatment, and other options.

Gray said aside from tobacco, alcohol is the most lethal drug in the military and in society overall, far and away more dangerous in terms of mortality than any other substance. Even deaths due to opioids, often described next to the word “epidemic,” pale in comparison to the ubiquitous booze.

For more on substance abuse, addiction, getting help, and treatments, visit this Health.mil page or this TRICARE overview of SUD treatment. For help right now, visit the Veterans Crisis Line for text support or call 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1).

You also may be interested in...

Patient Self-Management for Depression

Publication
7/14/2022

You can do several things to help yourself feel better, even when you’re not at your best. Start by selecting one of the activities from this list. Remember to take it slowly and add new things as you begin to feel better. (Make copies of this worksheet, and review it weekly with your mental health provider or a trusted family member or friend to track your progress.)

Recommended Content:

Psychological Health Center of Excellence | Psychological Fitness | Depression

JBLM Army spouse combats PTSD with physical fitness

Article Around MHS
7/13/2022
Military personnel in physical training session

Stress and anxiety are a normal part of life, but anxiety disorders like PTSD, which affect 40 million adults, are the most common psychiatric illnesses in the U.S.

Recommended Content:

Physical Fitness | Psychological Fitness | Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Wagging tails and smiling faces: Therapy dogs bring comfort to Medical Center staff

Article Around MHS
7/6/2022
Military personnel with support dog

Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune staff are receiving comfort and support from four-legged friends. For the past several months, Beasley the Basset Hound, has been making her rounds in her Red Cross volunteer vest, providing treats for humans in the form of pets and cuddles.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Psychological Fitness

Provider Soldiers Learn Mental Health First Aid

Article Around MHS
6/30/2022
Military personnel in classroom

Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Division Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division and members of the unit Soldier and Family Readiness Group, participated in the Mental Health First Aid training in Hinesville, Georgia

Recommended Content:

Psychological Fitness | Health Readiness & Combat Support

BJACH Discusses Men’s Health – Part 2: Capt. Scott Saucer

Article Around MHS
6/22/2022
Army Captain Scott Saucer

June is Men’s Health Month.

Recommended Content:

Men's Health | Social Fitness | Psychological Fitness

Retired 1st TSC Soldier encourages others to seek help for their mental health

Article Around MHS
6/14/2022
Military personnel posing for a picture

People can develop PTSD after surviving a traumatic event. It is a mental health condition, which can occur after experiencing severe trauma or a life-threatening incident, like military combat and being deployed to a war zone.

Recommended Content:

Psychological Fitness

PTSD Awareness Month - Treatment Works

Infographic
6/1/2022

Experiencing #PTSD can make one feel hopeless. Fortunately, there are strategies and treatments that WORK to relieve PTSD symptoms. Don’t wait, seek help today. #PTSDAwarenessMonth www.health.mil/ptsd

Recommended Content:

June | Total Force Fitness | Psychological Fitness | Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD Awareness Month - PTSD Awareness

Infographic
6/1/2022

Unfortunately, experiencing trauma is not uncommon. If you’ve experienced trauma and notice symptoms of #PTSD, don’t hesitate to ask your primary care provider about possible treatment. #TreatmentWorks #PTSDAwarenessMonth www.health.mil/ptsd

Recommended Content:

June | Total Force Fitness | Psychological Fitness | Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD Awareness Month

Infographic
6/1/2022

June is #PTSDAwarenessMonth Just because you cannot see a wound doesn’t mean it isn’t there. If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD, seek help immediately. www.health.mil/ptsd

Recommended Content:

June | Psychological Fitness | Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Mental Health Awareness Month highlights resources available for those in need

Article Around MHS
5/27/2022
Military personnel with counselor

As May concludes Mental Health Awareness Month, it serves as a reminder that taking care of your Mental Health year-round is vital to maintaining personal health, and mission readiness. 

Recommended Content:

Psychological Fitness

Managing Burnout

Video
5/19/2022
Person walking their dog outside

Burnout is really a state of extreme exhaustion caused by chronic overwhelming stress. Lt. Col. Catherine Callendar, Air Force Deputy Director of Psychological Health, gives some advice on coping with burnout. Learn more at health.mil/mentalhealth.

Recommended Content:

Mental Health: Seeking Care with TRICARE | Psychological Fitness

Together for Mental Health: May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Article
5/13/2022
Every May is Mental Health Month. If you know someone in crisis, contact the Military Crisis Line: 800-273-8255. (Photo: MHS Communications)

Health is wealth, especially when dealing with mental well-being. Growing up, kids are taught if they are hurt physically in any area, to seek help. The same should go for anyone’s mental health.

Recommended Content:

Mental Health: Seeking Care with TRICARE | Psychological Fitness

Fort Riley Summit Tackles Mental Healthcare Shortage

Article Around MHS
5/6/2022
Soldier speaks at podium

Dozen of civilian partners within the local TRICARE network recently collaborated with Fort Riley leadership for an all-day, first-time ever Mental Health Summit April 28. 

Recommended Content:

Psychological Fitness

MHS Minute | April 2022

Video
5/3/2022
MHS Minute

The MHS Minute highlights some of the outstanding work taking place across the Military Health System, including major milestones, events, notable activities, and much more. Help us get the word out about all of the unique, meaningful, and fascinating work taking place across the MHS by watching and sharing the video, which you can download from DVIDs: https://go.usa.gov/xuy7M. This month’s topic is mental health awareness. Check out the entire playlist: https://go.usa.gov/xtAAq

Recommended Content:

Mental Health: Seeking Care with TRICARE | Psychological Fitness

Tips for Talking to Your Kids About Current Events

Article
4/29/2022
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Rocio Romo, public affairs specialist at Space Launch Delta 30, spends quality time with her son at Cocheo Park on Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. We celebrate Month of the Military Child in April to celebrate military children whose parents serve the United States. (Photo: U.S. Space Force Airman 1st Class Kadielle Shaw)

Parents can help reassure children who are troubled by news events they see on TV and social media.

Recommended Content:

Month of the Military Child - Celebrating Military Kids | Children's Health | Psychological Fitness
<< < 1 2 3 4 5  ... > >> 
Showing results 31 - 45 Page 3 of 10
Refine your search
Last Updated: December 27, 2022
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery