New Studies on Combat Related Substance Abuse Beginning

August 31, 2010 - The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is teaming with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) among others to award a series of research grants. The focus will be on the connection between deployment and combat-related trauma in relation to substance abuse. The grants will total more than $6 million and will be spread across 11 research institutions in 11 states.

The majority of the research will focus on substance abuse problems in veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Military personnel returning from combat in these two arenas seem to be facing a litany of problems including substance abuse. For some, the abuse comes as a result of combat trauma and the end result is a mix of symptoms affecting not only the veteran, but also their family. There has been almost no research done on how to successfully handle these issues.

The research will explore multiple substances that soldiers abuse as well as varying treatment strategies. This will include why some veterans seek help and others do not. Researchers will also look at the effectiveness of interventions and the most helpful therapies for soldiers given their differing situations and needs, and how they reintegrate into their work and family lives.

The goal of the research is to understand the relationship between combat stress and substance abuse. Once that relationship is understood, it is hoped prevention and treatment techniques can be improved so as to treat the burden of combat-related trauma these soldiers carry.

Improving treatment techniques will improve the lives of veterans and their families. Part of the VA's commitment to fully treat veterans includes treating their substance abuse. Reducing rates of alcoholism, tobacco use and abuse, and other substances will benefit everyone in the long run.