Toby Rice Drews is one of the best experts on the subject of alcoholism, that I’ve found. Her free newsletter called “Getting Them Sober” is available on www.GettingThemSober.com.
She is an experienced licensed social worker/counselor, who has written numerous articles and best-selling books on alcoholism, and its devasting effects on the alcoholic and their family.
In “Getting Them Sober- Volume 1″ she writes, “Alcoholism isn’t just drinking. It’s a ‘family disease.’ It causes the wife and kids to become as addicted to the alcoholic as the alcoholic is to the booze.
While the alcoholic lies passed out, anesthetized, his family goes through the years of his drinking-stark, raving sober. Their world is like no sane family’s world. They believe lies, expect miracles, have him locked up, bail him out, wish he were dead, and pray that he gets home safely.” Continue reading 'Loved One Drinking Too Much? Educate Yourself with a Top-Notch Expert, and She’s Free!'»
In a article by Jeff Rowe, in the Stars and Stripes, he notes that for decades, officers clubs were revered, exclusive institutions of the military services. Dues and drinks were cheap. It was a great place to unwind after a tough day or combat mission. The clubs were thought to be good for morale and bonding, conducive to an effective fighting force.
Today, due to many factors such as economics, demographics, health and social engineering, officers and enlisted clubs have been closing. Many of the buildings are being transformed into all-ranks cafes, sports bars, restaurants and meeting places. These changes are birthing a new social order in the military, where comradeship is now based more on a top-to-bottom unit allegiance.
According to the Pentagon, the Air Force is the farthest ahead in converting officers clubs. One of the officers clubs at Camp Pendelton has been converted into a family-readiness center, and is often used for classes, meetings, and events such as retirement parties. Continue reading 'Military Culture is Slowly Changing- Social Segregation by Ranks is Disappearing'»
A new study led by Dr. Karen Seal, from the San Francisco Veteran Affairs Medical Centre, found that nearly 50,000 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans (between 2002 and 2008) have received a diagnosis of PTSD.
The startling fact is that only 10% of these veterans had completed the recommended treatment of 10-12 weekly sessions withing four months of diagnosis. After a year, only 30% had.
Male veterans under age 25, especially thoses who lived in rural areas and those who received their diagnosis at primary clinics were even less likely to get the recommended care.
Chaplain Kathie Costos, who writes the Wounded Times veterans blog, asks “What is the answer? A massive ad campaign? Better programs? Civilian support? Veterans Centers? How about all of them? How about having more Vietnam veterans speaking to the newer veterans and letting them know what wasted time cost them between combat and healing? How about following that up with what happened when they started to heal? There is so much more that can be done … it is clear that more HAS to be done.” Continue reading 'Fewer Than 10% of Returning Iraq and Afghanistan Combat Vets with PTSD Are Taking Advantage of Help'»
A new study has come out from researchers in San Francisco, on Iraq War veterans. The study suggests that more discussion of killing, may help veterans cope with an array of mental health problems after their wartime experience.
This is no surprise to those of us of the Vietnam War generation. We’ve long known that Vietnam vets seemed to find comfort in having interaction with other Vietnam vets. Unfortunately, from my experience, much of that bonding time included consumption of massive amounts of alcohol, or other substances. This of course, can be very hard on families.
The study was published last week in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, and found that soldiers who reported having killed in combat, or who gave orders that led to killing, were more likely to report the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol abuse, anger and relationships problems. Continue reading 'New Study Says Combat Veterans Need to Talk about Killing, Even in Public Forums'»
In another (alarming) article by Gregg Zoroya (USA Today) he notes that alcohol abuse is weighing heavy on the Army. In fact, there are “soaring numbers” of soldiers seeking alcohol treatment.
The Army reports they need at least 300 more counselors to meet the demand, cut wait times and offer evening and weekend services.
As of last year, 9, 199 soldiers enrolled in treatment after being diagnosed with alcohol problems. That is a 56 percent increase since 2003, when the Iraq war started!
Les McFarling, director of the Army Substance Abuse Program, states” Alcohol remains a much larger problem than drug abuse,” making up 85 percent of the Army substance-abuse caseload. He also says that many soldiers are referred to the program, after being cited by police for drunken driving. (My note: Alcohol IS a drug, albeit a legal one). Continue reading 'Army Says Alcohol is Self-Medicating Drug of Choice for Today’s Combat Vets'»
Probably some of you have already read recent stories of the findings (during Operation Iraqi Freedom) of the benefits of using morphine for military personnel wounded on the battlefield. While the early administration of morphine relieved pain, it’s also been found to help prevent PTSD!
It was observed that troops who received morphine within a few hours of injury, were 50% less likely to develop PTSD, than those who didn’t get it.
This is amazing and hopeful news. In reading an article in the LA Times by Karen Kaplan, I learned that this conclusion was based on findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine. They think that using morphine at the time of injury, can keep a horrifying event from escalating into PTSD, which as too many of us know, can be such a chronic, and incapacitating illness.
Small trials have been done on the use of opiates and other medications, which can disrupt the way the brain encodes traumatic memories, and prevent the incidents from being recorded with too much intensity. Continue reading 'Hope for Preventing PTSD – Using Morphine on the Battlefield'»
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