Prescription Drug Abuse and the Military

Military Abuse of Prescription Drugs on the Rise

Prescription drugs are meant to heal but more and more often they are being abused. Deaths from unintentional prescription drug overdoses in the United States have increased five-fold over the last two decades. The White House drug czar, Gil Kerikowske, calls it the fastest growing drug problem in the United States today. Partially due to the internet, prescription drugs are available everywhere. This increases exponentially the opportunities for abuse.

Recent statistics from the Department of Defense indicate that one in eight active duty military personnel, or about 11 %, report some type of drug abuse. The bulk of those who responded said prescription drugs were being misused. Today, some of the most pressing substance-abuse concerns in the U.S. military involve prescription medications. With wartime injuries and post traumatic stress disorder on the rise, it's easier than ever for active military to get hooked on pain relievers, tranquilizers, sedatives and stimulants.

Stressful events can have a direct affect on the use of alcohol or other drugs. Stress is a major contributor to the initiation and continuation of drug addiction and alcohol abuse, as well as to relapse or a return to drug use after periods of abstinence.

Several experts both within and outside the military have cited that stresses associated with multiple combat deployments are among the most likely causes of the uptick in prescription misuse among today's service members. Patients with emotional disorders are often given sedatives to calm them, and narcotics for the physical injuries , anxiety and distress associated with the trauma of the injurious event.

When symptoms (physical pain, anxiety, etc.) are acute, higher doses of medicines are prescribed. At that critical juncture, the patient has the opportunity, very quickly, to abuse them. Many people who have been injured physically also have psychological distress/ disorders. Being highly motivated to alleviate their pain and distress, they are willing to do anything or take anything to feel better.

Some of the most commonly abused prescription drugs are opioids, CNS depressants and stimulants:

Opioids are commonly prescribed because of their effective analgesic, or pain-relieving, properties. Medications that fall within this class-referred to as prescription narcotics-include morphine (e.g., Kadian, Avinza), codeine, oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin, Percodan, Percocet), and related drugs.

CNS depressants are sometimes referred to as sedatives and tranquilizers, are substances that can slow normal brain function. Because of this property, some CNS depressants are useful in the treatment of anxiety and sleep disorders.

Stimulants increase alertness, attention, and energy, as well as elevate blood pressure and increase heart rate and respiration. Stimulants historically were used to treat a variety of ailments. But as their potential for abuse and addiction became apparent, the medical use of stimulants began to wane. Now, stimulants are prescribed for the treatment of only a few health conditions.

Who is susceptible to addiction from the use of prescription drugs? We see men and women who have genetic predispositions as one group. Having a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle with an addiction to alcohol, legal or illegal drugs predisposes one to become physically dependent on substances. Other conditions include early use of alcohol, nicotine and or marijuana, and those who begin to use substances from somewhere between ages 12-17 are especially vulnerable as the brain changes which result from the chemical use, including the THC from marijuana, and the nicotine from tobacco, set up a person to develop a substance use disorder during their lifetime.

If you or someone you love has a problem with substances, please seek help. The sooner one overcomes the denial associated with alcohol and drug addiction, the less damage to the brain, body, relationships and overall wellness. For additional information call Tamra at Lasting Recovery (858) 453-4315.

With hope for your healthy future,

Judy Saalinger, Ph.D. MFT, CAS
Co-Founder and Executive Director