Dale W Russell1, Cristel Antonia Russell2, Lyndon A Riviere3, Jeffrey L Thomas3, Joshua E Wilk3, Paul D Bliese3. 1. Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, United States; Uniformed Services University, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States. Electronic address: dale.w.russell1.mil@mail.mil. 2. American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016, United States. 3. Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, United States.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This research documents the impact of combat experiences on alcohol use and misuse among National Guard soldiers. Whereas much research regarding combat personnel is based on post-experience data, this study's design uses both pre- and post-deployment data to identify the association between different types of combat experiences and changes in substance use and misuse. METHOD: A National Guard Infantry Brigade Combat Team was surveyed before and after its deployment to Iraq in 2005-2006. Members of the unit completed anonymous surveys regarding behavioral health and alcohol use and, in the post-survey, the combat experiences they had during deployment. The unit was surveyed 3 months prior to its deployment and 3 months after its deployment. RESULTS: Prevalence rates of alcohol use increased from 70.8% pre-deployment to 80.5% post-deployment. Prevalence rates of alcohol misuse more than doubled, increasing from 8.51% before deployment to 19.15% after deployment. However, among the combat experiences examined in this study, changes in alcohol misuse post-deployment appear to be solely affected by the combat experience of killing. Alcohol misuse decreased amongst those who experienced killing during combat. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the role of combat experiences on substance use. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
OBJECTIVE: This research documents the impact of combat experiences on alcohol use and misuse among National Guard soldiers. Whereas much research regarding combat personnel is based on post-experience data, this study's design uses both pre- and post-deployment data to identify the association between different types of combat experiences and changes in substance use and misuse. METHOD: A National Guard Infantry Brigade Combat Team was surveyed before and after its deployment to Iraq in 2005-2006. Members of the unit completed anonymous surveys regarding behavioral health and alcohol use and, in the post-survey, the combat experiences they had during deployment. The unit was surveyed 3 months prior to its deployment and 3 months after its deployment. RESULTS: Prevalence rates of alcohol use increased from 70.8% pre-deployment to 80.5% post-deployment. Prevalence rates of alcohol misuse more than doubled, increasing from 8.51% before deployment to 19.15% after deployment. However, among the combat experiences examined in this study, changes in alcohol misuse post-deployment appear to be solely affected by the combat experience of killing. Alcohol misuse decreased amongst those who experienced killing during combat. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the role of combat experiences on substance use. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
Entities:
Keywords:
Alcohol; Longitudinal; Military; National Guard