Alcohol Use Is a Problem In The Military But Evidence-Based Treatments Can Help

Key Takeaways

• Alcohol abuse in the military is a widespread issue, with 85% of soldiers seeking outpatient substance abuse treatment doing so specifically for alcohol-related problems.
• Military personnel face unique stressors including combat exposure, deployment separation, and a culture that normalizes drinking, contributing to high rates of alcohol misuse.
• Up to 43.2% of active duty military personnel engage in binge drinking, with the highest rates among those aged 17-25.
• Evidence-based treatments including specialized military programs, cognitive behavioral therapy, and trauma-focused interventions can effectively address alcohol use disorders in service members.
• Ona Treatment Center provides TRICARE-approved rehabilitation services specifically designed to address the unique needs of military personnel struggling with alcohol abuse.

Alcohol Abuse: A Pervasive Military Crisis

The relationship between military service and alcohol consumption runs deep, creating challenges that affect both operational readiness and personal wellbeing. At Ona Treatment Center, we regularly witness the impact of alcohol misuse on those who serve our country. The statistics paint a concerning picture: 85% of soldiers seeking outpatient substance abuse treatment do so specifically for alcohol-related issues. This isn't simply a matter of social drinking gone too far—it represents a systemic challenge woven into the fabric of military culture.

Military service creates unique vulnerabilities to alcohol abuse. High exposure to combat stress significantly increases the risk of developing substance use disorders, particularly alcoholism. The numbers tell a sobering story: up to 43.2% of active duty military personnel engage in binge drinking, with most being young service members aged 17-25. Even more concerning, 70% of these binge drinkers were also classified as heavy drinkers in general, indicating a pattern of problematic alcohol use beyond occasional excess.

Understanding the Scope of Military Alcohol Misuse

Alarming Statistics Among Service Members

The prevalence of alcohol misuse among military personnel significantly exceeds that of the civilian population. Approximately 27% of active-duty service members engage in binge drinking—consuming five or more drinks on a single occasion for men or four or more for women. This rate is substantially higher than what we see in the general public. In the United Kingdom's military, the disparity is even more pronounced, with 67% of men and 49% of women reporting excessive alcohol consumption, compared to civilian rates of 38% and 16% respectively.

Binge Drinking vs. Alcohol Use Disorder

It's crucial to distinguish between different patterns of problematic drinking within military populations. Binge drinking—consuming large quantities of alcohol in a short period—is often normalized as a bonding activity or stress relief mechanism. However, this behavior can easily escalate into alcohol use disorder (AUD), a medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse consequences.

The progression from occasional excess to dependency often happens gradually and can be difficult to recognize, especially in an environment where heavy drinking is normalized. Many service members don't realize they've crossed the line from social drinking to a clinical problem until significant damage has occurred to their health, relationships, or career.

The Hidden Problem: Underreporting and Stigma

Many service members conceal their alcohol problems due to fears about career impacts and the strong stigma surrounding substance abuse in military culture. This underreporting creates a significant barrier to addressing the true scope of alcohol misuse in the armed forces. Despite military policies discouraging excessive drinking, many personnel continue to struggle silently, believing that seeking help demonstrates weakness—a perception directly contrary to military values of strength and resilience.

Common reasons service members avoid seeking help include:

• Fear of negative career consequences, including potential loss of security clearance
• Concern about being perceived as weak or unreliable by peers and superiors
• Worry about confidentiality breaches within military treatment facilities
• Belief that they should be able to handle problems independently
• Lack of awareness about available treatment options and their effectiveness

Why Military Personnel Turn to Alcohol

Combat Stress and Trauma

The relationship between combat exposure and alcohol misuse is well-documented. Military personnel who experience high-stress combat situations often turn to alcohol as a form of self-medication. These service members are trying to manage symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), combat-related anxiety, and intrusive memories of traumatic events.

Servicemen and women experience depression rates five times higher than civilian populations, creating additional vulnerability to alcohol dependence. The statistics paint a stark picture: military personnel are six times more likely to suffer from Intermittent Explosive Disorder and fifteen times more likely to develop PTSD than their civilian counterparts.

Military Culture and Social Pressure

Military culture has historically normalized heavy drinking as part of unit bonding and celebration. From traditional toasts to informal gatherings, alcohol often serves as the centerpiece of military social events. New recruits quickly learn that participation in drinking activities can determine social acceptance and perceived commitment to the unit.

This cultural pressure creates an environment where refusing to drink can lead to social isolation or questions about one's dedication to the team. In this context, binge drinking becomes not just accepted but expected as a demonstration of belonging.

Coping with Deployment and Separation

The cycle of deployment creates unique stressors that contribute to problematic drinking patterns. Before deployment, anxiety about upcoming separation from family and potential combat situations can trigger increased alcohol consumption. During deployment, alcohol may be used to manage boredom, loneliness, and stress in combat zones where alcohol is permitted.

Perhaps most critically, the post-deployment period often involves readjustment challenges that many service members attempt to manage through alcohol use. This pattern becomes especially problematic when attempting to reintegrate into family life and civilian society.

Health and Readiness Consequences

Physical Health Impacts

Chronic alcohol misuse takes a severe toll on the physical health of military personnel. Beyond the well-known risks of liver disease and cardiovascular problems, excessive drinking compromises the immune system, reduces physical fitness, and impairs recovery from training or injuries.

These physical effects directly undermine the military's need for personnel who are physically prepared for deployment and combat readiness. For service members already managing combat-related injuries, alcohol can interact negatively with medications and impede healing processes.

Mental Health Complications

The relationship between alcohol use and mental health in military populations creates a dangerous cycle. While many service members drink to alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or PTSD, alcohol actually exacerbates these conditions over time. This creates a self-perpetuating pattern where increasing mental health symptoms lead to increased drinking, which further worsens mental health.

About 75% of veterans with alcohol issues also face significant mental health challenges, demonstrating the interconnected nature of these problems.

Operational Readiness Effects

Alcohol misuse directly compromises military operational readiness. Personnel who drink heavily experience decreased cognitive function, impaired decision-making abilities, and slower reaction times—all critical faculties for military operations. Units with high rates of alcohol problems show increased rates of accidents, disciplinary incidents, and decreased cohesion.

From a strategic perspective, addressing alcohol misuse is not simply a health concern but a matter of maintaining combat effectiveness and mission capability.

Family and Relationship Strain

The consequences of military alcohol abuse extend beyond the individual service member to affect families and relationships. Military families already face unique stressors, including frequent relocations and separations. When compounded by a family member's alcohol misuse, these challenges can become overwhelming.

Relationships suffer from communication breakdowns, financial strain, and emotional distance. Children in these households may experience instability and develop their own psychological difficulties. The resulting family dysfunction creates additional stress for the service member, potentially worsening the drinking behavior in a destructive cycle.

5 Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches That Work

The good news is that effective treatments exist for military personnel struggling with alcohol use disorders. These evidence-based approaches address both the addiction itself and the underlying factors that contribute to problematic drinking patterns. When properly implemented, these treatments can lead to significant improvements in both alcohol-related behaviors and overall quality of life.

1. Specialized Military Treatment Programs

Treatment programs specifically designed for military personnel take into account the unique aspects of military culture and experience. These specialized programs understand the role that combat exposure, deployment stressors, and military culture play in the development and maintenance of alcohol problems. At Ona Treatment Center, our TRICARE-approved alcohol rehabilitation facility incorporates military-specific elements that help service members feel understood and properly supported throughout their recovery journey.

These specialized programs typically feature staff with military background or specialized training in military issues, treatment protocols that address co-occurring conditions common in military populations (such as PTSD), and peer support from other veterans or service members. This military-informed approach creates an environment where service members can address their alcohol use without feeling judged or misunderstood.

2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has shown remarkable effectiveness in treating alcohol use disorders among military populations. This approach helps service members identify and change the thought patterns that lead to problematic drinking. Through CBT, individuals learn to recognize high-risk situations, develop coping strategies for stress and cravings, and build skills to prevent relapse.

CBT is particularly valuable for military personnel because it provides practical, actionable techniques that align with military values of discipline and personal responsibility. The structured nature of CBT also works well for service members accustomed to clear objectives and measurable outcomes. Studies consistently show that CBT leads to significant reductions in drinking behavior and improvements in overall functioning among military populations.

3. Medication-Assisted Treatment

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) combines behavioral therapy with FDA-approved medications that can help reduce cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms. For alcohol use disorder, medications like naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram have shown effectiveness in supporting abstinence and preventing relapse.

These medications work through different mechanisms:

• Naltrexone blocks the pleasurable effects of alcohol, reducing the reward of drinking
• Acamprosate helps restore brain chemistry disrupted by chronic alcohol use
• Disulfiram creates unpleasant physical reactions when alcohol is consumed, deterring use

When properly prescribed and monitored as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, these medications can significantly improve treatment outcomes for military personnel struggling with alcohol dependence.

4. Trauma-Focused Interventions

Given the high rates of trauma exposure in military populations, treatments that specifically address trauma are often essential components of effective alcohol treatment. Approaches like Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) help service members process traumatic experiences and reduce PTSD symptoms that often drive alcohol misuse.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is another evidence-based approach that has shown effectiveness for treating trauma in military populations. By addressing the underlying trauma, these interventions often lead to natural reductions in the need to self-medicate with alcohol. The integration of trauma treatment with alcohol recovery programs represents a crucial advancement in addressing the complex needs of military personnel.

5. Peer Support and Group Therapy

Peer support plays a particularly important role in recovery for military personnel. The camaraderie and mutual understanding found in group therapy settings can recreate some of the positive aspects of military unit cohesion while supporting sobriety rather than drinking. Groups specifically for veterans or active-duty personnel create safe spaces where members can discuss military-specific triggers and challenges without having to explain or justify their experiences.

Organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous have military-specific meetings in many locations, and the VA offers various peer support programs. These group approaches build on the military values of teamwork and supporting fellow service members, directing these positive aspects of military culture toward recovery goals. Research indicates that strong social support can reduce binge drinking in veterans by up to 40%, highlighting the critical importance of these peer connections.

Implementing Evidence-Based Practices in Recovery

Effective recovery from alcohol use disorders requires more than just willpower—it demands evidence-based approaches implemented consistently over time. Understanding how these approaches work in real-world settings can help service members and veterans navigate their recovery journey more effectively.

Personalized Treatment Planning

The most successful treatment approaches recognize that each service member's experience with alcohol is unique. Effective treatment plans consider multiple factors:

• Combat exposure and deployment history
• Presence of co-occurring mental health conditions
• Level of family and social support
• Career stage and concerns
• Previous treatment attempts and outcomes

At Ona Treatment Center, treatment plans are developed through comprehensive assessments that examine all these factors, ensuring that each service member receives care tailored to their specific needs and circumstances.

Integration of Family Support

Family involvement significantly improves treatment outcomes for many service members struggling with alcohol use disorders. Effective family integration in treatment includes education about alcohol use disorders and recovery, communication skills training, development of healthy boundaries, and strategies for supporting recovery without enabling.

When families understand the nature of alcohol use disorders and learn effective ways to support recovery, both the service member and their loved ones benefit from improved relationships and stronger recovery foundations. Many treatment programs now offer dedicated family programs that address the unique challenges military families face when supporting a loved one in recovery.

Continuing Care Strategies

Recovery from alcohol use disorders is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. Effective continuing care strategies include structured step-down from intensive treatment, regular check-ins with treatment providers, ongoing participation in peer support groups, and relapse prevention planning.

Long-term recovery rates improve significantly when service members engage in continuing care following initial treatment. These ongoing supports help navigate the challenges of maintaining sobriety while readjusting to military duties or civilian life. For many, this continuing care becomes an integral part of their new lifestyle, providing structure and accountability during the transition to long-term sobriety.

Conclusion: Hope and Healing for Military Personnel

Alcohol use disorders represent a significant challenge for military communities, but evidence-based treatments offer real hope for recovery. The same strength, resilience, and determination that define military service can become powerful assets in the journey toward sobriety.

For service members struggling with alcohol, the message is clear: recovery is possible, and effective help is available. With the right support, treatment approaches, and personal commitment, the cycle of alcohol misuse can be broken, leading to improved health, stronger relationships, and renewed purpose.

Ona Treatment Center provides specialized, TRICARE-approved rehabilitation programs designed to address the unique needs of military personnel struggling with alcohol use disorders.