Alcohol Abuse In The Military

The effects of alcohol on military service members Military service members are not immune to the harmful effects of Alcohol in their personal life’s. Studies have shown, Soldiers tend to abuse the use of Alcohol to the extent of becoming addicted to the harmful substance due in part to the stressor’s they in contour in their working environment. Alcohol is a substance that has been abused by the general public since its origin, but in recent years’ studies have shown the increase abuse by military service members as they attempt to cope with the realities of war. Alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and liquor among others can take a serious toll on the human body. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (https://www.niaaa.nih.gov)
military defines alcohol abuse as alcohol use that has adverse effects on the user’s health or behavior, family, or community or on the Department of Defense (DOD), or that leads to unacceptable behavior (Committee on Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Substance Use Disorders in the U.S. Armed Forces, 2012). Since the 1970, the DOD, established policy directives to emphasize the prevention of alcohol through education and law enforcement procedures. Treatment was provided for heavy users in an effort to return soldiers back to duty, In the 1980’s, the DOD updated their policy, focused on prevention. The DOD policy continued to emphasize education, but gave less importance to treatment giving the impression that users were not addicted and not in need of treatment. Since the 1980’s, the DOD’s policy has continued to evolve. The Current DoD policy strongly discourages alcohol abuse (i.e., binge or heavy drinking), because of their negative effects both on health and on military readiness. Unfortunately, the zero tolerance and stigma associated with alcohol abuse discourages soldiers from reporting any issues they may have and request
Alcoholic can have a harmful effect on the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, immune system and can increase the risk of developing cancers in the mouth, esophagus, throat, liver and breast. Excessive use of alcohol can weaken the immune system, making the drinker more liable to contact diseases. In addition to what Alcohol causes to the one’s own body, pregnant women that use alcohol can also cause harm to the developing fetus. In 2012, an estimated 855,000 adolescents ages 12–17 and 17 million adults in the United States had an alcohol use disorder. Historically, alcohol use has been common in the military and has become part of the military culture. Regrettably, alcohol use can lead to severe problems to the soldier’s careers and body functions. In addition to alcohol abuse the stress associated with combat exposure can lead to mental disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compounding the abuse. According to an academic journal of military medicine, high levels of alcohol use and alcohol-related problems are associated with suicide and suicidal behaviors. Unfortunately, the department of Defense zero tolerance policy and stigma associated with alcohol abuse discourages soldiers from reporting any issues they may have and request