Military Veterans and Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol is one of the most commonly used and abused substances by Veterans. Veterans have higher rates of overall use as well as higher rates of alcohol addiction compared to civilians.1 alcohol veterans However regardless of the challenges you are facing associated with alcohol misuse and addiction there are specialized addiction treatment programs that cater to Veterans.  

Understanding what alcohol addiction is, how it can affect veterans, and what treatment options are available can help you achieve recovery.

A Culture of Alcohol Misuse in The Military

Military culture and the stresses associated with military life may play a role in the increased risk of alcohol misuse and addiction in Veterans as well as active-duty military members.¹  Alcohol is easily available on military bases, it is accepted among military members to drink alcohol and alcohol is often use as an unhealthy coping tool among military personnel. These are some of the factors that most likely contribute to the  increased rates of alcohol misuse in the military.³

The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that 65% of Veterans who enter treatment programs report that alcohol is the substance they use most, which is almost double the rate found in the general population.¹ A RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute survey indicates that around 1/4 of all Veterans report binge drinking (defined as 4 or more drinks per day for women or 5 or more drinks per day for men) in the past month.^{4, 5}

Different factors may play a role in alcohol misuse in the military, including gender and service period. For example, 4.9% of all Veterans had a past-year alcohol use disorder (AUD), but 8% of post-9/11 Veterans had an AUD.⁴ AUD is also reported to be more common among male than female Veterans, with 10.5% current AUDs among male Veterans, compared to 4.8% current AUDs among female Veterans, according to one study.⁶

Risk Factors for Alcohol Addiction Among Veterans

Veterans struggle with numerous challenges, both during their military careers and after they leave the service. The stresses of deployment, reintegration challenges, and the impact of certain co-occurring mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression can lead to increased risk of alcohol misuse in the military and in Veterans.^{1, 6} Veterans also face the same risk factors for addiction as the general population, such as early substance use, parental substance use and attitudes about substance use, and exposure to trauma.⁷ 

Trauma & Alcohol Use Disorder Among Veterans

A history of trauma in childhood as well as trauma experienced during their military careers may increase the risk of Veterans and alcohol addiction.^{6, 8} One study indicates that interpersonal traumas, like sexual or physical abuse in childhood, have been associated with a heightened risk of substance use disorders in Veterans, and some have joined the military to escape traumatic or adverse home environments.⁶ Likewise, trauma experienced during service, such as military sexual trauma or combat trauma, such as witnessing the death of another person or killing someone else, can potentially lead to higher rates of alcohol misuse in Veterans.^{8, 9, 10} 

PTSD & Alcohol Use Disorder Among Veterans

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition that can develop in Veterans who have experienced trauma.¹⁰ Short-term trauma symptoms, such as those involved in acute stress disorder (ASD), may resolve after a short period of time, but PTSD involves chronic symptoms, such as negative feelings, self-blame, risky or destructive behavior, sleep problems, and hypervigilance, that persist for long after the event has occurred.^{11, 12}

PTSD and alcohol use disorder (AUD) can have a bidirectional relationship. PTSD can lead to AUD when people misuse alcohol to cope with symptoms of PTSD, but alcohol misuse can also worsen symptoms of PTSD because it can inhibit effective trauma processing and perpetuate the cycle of avoidance that is common in PTSD.¹²

According to the VA, more than 2 in 10 Veterans with PTSD also have a substance use disorder, and one study indicates that Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who had PTSD were twice as likely to report alcohol misuse as those with no PTSD.^{12, 13} 

Depression & Alcohol Use Disorder Among Veterans

Veterans can also struggle with depression and co-occurring AUD. As with PTSD, depression and AUD can have a bidirectional relationship. Veterans may drink alcohol to cope with their depressive symptoms, but depressive symptoms can also result from excessive alcohol use and subsequent alcohol withdrawal.⁹ 

It’s important to note that it’s relatively common for Veterans to struggle with more than one co-occurring disorder and AUD. For example, one study by the VA of OEF/OIF Veterans found that 4% screened positive for depression and alcohol misuse, but 19% screened positive for depression, PTSD, and alcohol misuse.¹⁴

Alcohol Use Disorder Treatments & Resources for Veterans

Specialized Veterans treatment programs can lead to positive health outcomes for those struggling with alcohol addiction. Treatment can help Veterans safely stop drinking alcohol and regain control of their lives – Veterans should know that people with AUD and/or co-occurring conditions can and do recover.¹⁵ Veteran-specific treatment programs understand the unique needs and experiences of Veterans, and many have staff members that are Veterans themselves. 

Some of the common treatment settings at Veterans rehab include: 

• Medical detox, which provides medical supervision, medication, and expert support to Veterans as they undergo withdrawal from drugs or alcohol.¹⁵ 
• Inpatient rehab, which involves living onsite at a treatment facility, where Veterans will receive 24/7 care and participate in different types of therapies.¹⁵ 
• Outpatient treatment programs, where Veterans can continue to reside at home but attend treatment at a rehab on a set schedule.¹⁵ 
• Intensive outpatient programs, which are more supportive outpatient programs providing 9-20 hours of weekly treatment.¹⁵ 
• Partial hospitalization programs, also known as high-intensity outpatient programs, which provide 4-8 hours of daily treatment.¹⁵ 
• Rehab aftercare, which is designed to aid a Veteran’s ongoing recovery and can include various supports, such as sober living, counseling, or support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA).¹⁵ 

VA Alcohol Rehab & Treatment

The VA provides various types of treatment for AUD and co-occurring disorders and also provides Veterans insurance coverage for addiction and mental health problems.¹⁶  Veterans who want to use VA coverage should make sure that they are enrolled in the VA’s healthcare plan.¹⁶ If you’re not already enrolled, you can call the VA at 1- 800-827-1000, or visit their website.¹⁶

The VA’s community care network can also connect Veterans with addiction treatment when the VA is unable to provide care directly.¹⁷ American Addiction Centers is a community care provider. To receive treatment from a community care provider, Veterans may need to meet specific eligibility requirements and receive prior approval from the VA.¹⁷

Start Your Recovery Today

If you or a loved one are a Veteran struggling with alcohol addiction, Veterans-specific treatment programs can help. As mentioned above, American Addiction Centers is a VA community care provider, and our Desert Hope and River Oaks facilities offer specialized Veterans treatment programs that are designed to meet the unique needs of Veterans. 

Please visit the Recovery.org treatment directory to search for facilities that offer Veterans programs or call us at to learn more about treatment that may be covered by the VA and verify your insurance benefits.