U.S Military

This paper investigates drug abuse as an ethical problem confronting the Army, focusing on its root causes, effects on the military, and guidelines for addressing the root causes. The United States Military maintains a zero-tolerance approach against drug abuse. Several reports, however, show that drug abuse is a common occurrence in the United States military. According to recent reports, about 2.3 percent of military personnel use illegal drugs, and illegal drug use by military personnel is widespread among persons aged 18 to 25. (NIDA, 2013). The military’s unique culture and the stresses experienced by the Army personnel during wartime account for some substance abuse differences between civilian and the military members (NIDA, 2013). According to research, Army soldiers that have been deployed several times and have experienced combat exposure have a higher likelihood of developing ethical problems relating to substance abuse. The use of various illicit drugs by the Army personnel also result from their excessive consumption of alcohol and higher smoking rate.

Substance abuse affects the U.S Army in a broad range of ways. One of such effects relates to increased suicide rates. Substance abuse can also lead to the soldiers’ involvement in various harmful behaviors, such as the use of illicit drugs and drinking while driving. Army soldiers who get involved in substance abuse during wartime may experience a broad range of problems, including the risk of personal safety.

One of the ways that would help in reducing or eliminating the root-causes of substance abuse in the U.S Army is strengthening of the zero-tolerance policies. The causes of substance abuse can also be reduced or prevented by the provision of effective treatment services to Army personnel. There is also a need for the Army to implement various policies that would limit the period of opioid pain reliever prescriptions.

Introduction

The United States military forces refer to the U.S Armed forces, which consist of the Navy, Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force. The United States President is the Commander in chief of the United States Armed forces and collaborates with U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), federal executive departments, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in formulating military policy (Sirratt, Ozanian, & Traenkner, 2012). The U.S. Army forms the largest component of the United States Armed Forces and carries out land-based military operations (Sirratt, Ozanian, & Traenkner, 2012). The U.S Military has zero tolerance policy for substance abuse. However, several studies indicate that substance abuse is a widespread practice in the U.S. military. According to recent studies, about 2.3 percent of military personnel use illicit drugs, and the consumption of illegal drugs is prevalent among the military personnel aged between 18 and 25 (NIDA, 2013). Besides, research shows that over 3.9 percent of military servicemen and women aged between 18 and 25 have engaged in illicit drug use (NIDA, 2013). This paper explores substance abuse as an ethical issue facing the Army, with the focus on its root-causes, impact on the force, as well as recommendations for correcting the root-causes.

The Root Causes of Substance Abuse in the U.S Army

Both retired and active members of the U.S Army are not immune to problems relating to substance abuse that affect other society members. The military’s unique culture and the stresses experienced by the Army personnel during wartime account for some substance abuse differences between civilian and the military members (NIDA, 2013). Some of the Army personnel continuously abuse drugs due to stigma, which makes it difficult for the identification and treatment of substance abuse-related problems among Army personnel (NIDA, 2013).

Members of the U.S Army are usually under considerable stress, which significantly contributes to their involvement in substance abuse. Heavy use of alcohol and tobacco and the abuse of prescription drugs are becoming more common among the members of the U.S Army (IPRC, 2012). According to research, Army soldiers that have been deployed several times and have experienced combat exposure have a higher likelihood of developing ethical problems relating to substance abuse. They are more likely to engage in new binge drinking and new-onset excessive weekly drinking, which make them suffer alcohol and other substance abuse-related problems, including smoking and higher prescribed use of behavioral-health medications (IPRC, 2012).

Another possible cause of substance abuse among the Army personnel is combat-related injuries, as well as strain on the body resulting from multiple deployments (Sirratt, Ozanian, & Traenkner, 2012). Army personnel that gets injured during deployments or develop body strains usually end up abusing prescription drugs to relieve pain. According to recent studies, some of the most commonly abused prescription drugs are opioid pain medications. Studies indicate that over 11 percent of the military servicepersons abuse prescription drugs and that binge drinking among the Military personnel has drastically increased over the past decade (Sirratt, Ozanian, & Traenkner, 2012).

The use of various illicit drugs by the Army personnel also result from their excessive consumption of alcohol and higher smoking rate. According to research, almost half of the active duty service members of the Army have engaged in binge drinking at some point (NIDA, 2013). Army personnel also have higher cigarette smoking rate, especially among those who have had combat experiences. Besides, most Army officers engage in regular heavy drinking and smoking, which encourage them to attempt the use of hard drugs, thereby making substance abuse a major ethical concern not only to the Army but also to all branches of the U.S armed forces (NIDA, 2013).

According to recent studies, Army personnel also engage in substance abuse to cope with boredom and stress of being far from their loved ones. Therefore, the primary contributors to substance abuse by the Army personnel relate to loneliness, anxiety, fatigue, and fear (Sirratt, Ozanian, & Traenkner, 2012). The Army soldiers deployed in war zones experience constant attacks by the enemy insurgents and coping with such stress in the field on a daily basis leads some Army servicemen and women to use drugs as a method of self-medication (Sirratt, Ozanian, & Traenkner, 2012). Additionally, substance abuse by the Army personnel may be as a result of inactivity and alertness. Military service is often characterized by short periods of intense action and long periods of inactivity and boredom, which gives most of the soldiers time to engage in drug use. Besides, most soldiers use stimulants to enhance their alertness during nighttime duties or patrols (Sirratt, Ozanian, & Traenkner, 2012).

Impacts of Substance Abuse on the U.S Army

Substance abuse affects the U.S Army in a broad range of ways. One of such effects relates to increased suicide rates. The rate of suicide among civilians was traditionally higher than that of the military members. However, the rate of suicide among the military personnel, including the Army, began increasing during the early 2000s (IPRC, 2012). Most of such suicide incidents have proven to result from substance abuse. According to the Army Suicide Prevention Task Force’s 2010 report, about 29 percent of Army suicides involving Active duty Army personnel from the year 2005 to 2009 related to either alcohol and drug use, or the use of prescription drugs (IPRC, 2012).

Substance abuse can also lead to the soldiers’ involvement in various harmful behaviors, such as the use of illicit drugs and drinking while driving. According to a study by the Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP), alcohol is the most frequently abused substance by the U.S. Army personnel and about 27 percent of soldiers in the Army engage in alcohol abuse after return from deployment. The alcohol-related behavior problems affect the soldiers’ readiness for duty, as well as their units, friends, and family members (Sirratt, Ozanian, & Traenkner, 2012).

Substance abuse is of great concern in the Army for similar reasons that make it raise fear among the civilian population. That is because it can interfere with or cause harm to various processes, including judgment, problem-solving, decision-making, memory, and learning. Besides, substance abuse may cause a broad range of health problems to the Army soldiers, as well as harm them and their loved ones in the context of reduced productivity at work (NIDA, 2013).

Additionally, Army soldiers who get involved in substance abuse during wartime may experience a broad range of problems, including the risk of personal safety. Some drugs can reduce an individual’s reaction time, which can mean the difference between life and death on the battlefield (Sirratt, Ozanian, & Traenkner, 2012). Consumption of drugs, therefore, puts Army soldiers at higher risks of getting wounded or being separated from their colleagues during troop movements or battles. Substance abuse during wartime can also make Army soldiers to put their comrades in jeopardy (Sirratt, Ozanian, & Traenkner, 2012). Military personnel often rely on their comrades in arms during operations. Therefore, if some soldiers’ judgments get impaired due to drug use, they may as well put their comrades in peril. The use of drugs during Army operations may also create a disorderly and unfavorable environment. Military units operate on order and the line of command. Therefore, if conflicts or chaos arise due to drug use, the functioning of the whole Army unit will be jeopardized (Sirratt, Ozanian, & Traenkner, 2012).

Substance abuse among the Army personnel can also lead to dishonorable discharge from the service. The United States armed forces do not entertain behaviors relating substance abuse in all the ranks of the service (NIDA, 2013). Although, there are various drug rehabilitation programs available to Army personnel on active duty, most common responses to problems relating to substance abuse are dishonorable discharges. In such situations, Army soldiers receive “black marks” or “dents” on their service records that can affect them for several years in future, even in a civilian life where finding a job with such a document can be almost an impossibility (NIDA, 2013).

Recommendations for Correcting the Root-causes of Substance Abuse in the Army

One of the ways that would help in reducing or eliminating the root-causes of substance abuse in the U.S Army is strengthening of the zero-tolerance policies. According to research, zero-tolerance policies have contributed significantly to the reduced level of substance abuse in the military within the last few decades. Effective enforcement of zero tolerance policies will, therefore, help in lowering the rate of substance abuse in the Army.

The primary causes of substance abuse can also be reduced or eliminated by the provision of effective treatment services to Army personnel faced with stress and other psychological conditions resulting from deployment. The Department of defense should ensure that Army soldiers have adequate access to interventions, treatment, and care. Army personnel should also have better insurance coverage as a means of reducing substance abuse. There is also a need for the Army to implement various policies that would limit the period of opioid pain reliever prescriptions. Besides, the Army should implement policies that would ensure monitoring of the soldiers’ medications in situations that involve multiple treatments.

Another means of minimizing the root-causes of substance abuse in the Army would involve the use of evidence-based treatment and prevention interventions, as well as the expansion of the soldiers’ access to care. In other words, the healthcare providers that serve the Army personnel should be better equipped to recognize and screen the soldiers for substance use-related problems to enable them to refer patients to proper, evidence-based treatment when necessary. Moreover, there should be a limit of the Army personnel’s access to alcohol.

Correcting the root-causes of substance abuse in the U.S Army will also require an increase in confidentiality, as well as the establishment of a cultural climate that does not encourage stigmatization and fear among substance abusers. Besides, there is a need for various government agencies to fund research to create a better understanding of the root-causes of substance abuse among the Army personnel and their families, as well as how best to prevent and cure them. The Army Substance Abuse Program also receive adequate funding to help in strengthening the overall effectiveness and fitness of the Army’s workforce by ensuring that soldiers have the necessary tools to receive treatment for substance abuse and various alcohol-related problems.

Conclusion

Substance abuse stands as one of the ethical issues facing the U.S. Army. The Army personnel’s habitual abuse of alcohol and drugs can lead to a broad range of health and behavioral problems. Besides, Army soldiers who abuse drugs or alcohol have reduced chances of performing their job correctly, which can put the lives of their colleagues in danger during operations. It is therefore essential for Army soldiers who are battling with substance addiction to seek treatment at various military rehabilitation facilities as soon as practically possible to prevent possible adverse impacts. The reduction or eradication of the causes of substance abuse in the Army requires strengthening of zero tolerance policies as well as the provision of adequate access to treatment for the Army soldiers. There is also need to encourage research into the substance abuse issue to create awareness among the members of the army. Seeking treatment in the rehabilitation facilities will not only help substance abusers to overcome substance abuse but also help them get sober and maintain their sobriety. With continued research into substance abuse among the Army personnel, there is great hope that various problems relating to substance abuse will continue to reduce due to the provision of more effective treatment and care such as therapy and rehabilitation. Moreover, Army soldiers who suffer from substance abuse need to seek guidance and advice from qualified medical professionals. The increased access of Army personnel to proper treatment and care for substance abuse problems will eventually assist in eradicating substance abuse issue in the Army.

References

Indiana Prevention Resource Center (IPRC). (2012). Military and Behavioral Health Problems: Substance Abuse and Problem Gambling. Indiana University. Retrieved from http://drugs.indiana.edu/drug-info/featured-articles/200-military-and-behavioral-health-problems-substance-abuse-and-problem-gambling

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). (2013). Substance Abuse in the Military. National Institutes Of Health. Retrieved from https://d14rmgtrwzf5a.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/drugfacts_subabusemilitary.pdf

Sirratt, D., Ozanian, A., & Traenkner, B. (2012). Epidemiology and Prevention of Substance Use Disorders in the Military. MILITARY MEDICINE, 21-28. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article-abstract/177/suppl_8/21/4345420