The following summary looks at the article titled, “Increased Risk of Alcohol and Drug use Among Children From Deployed Military Families”, and is from the journal Addiction. The article was authored by Laura Acion, Marizen R. Ramirez, Ricardo E. Jorge, and Stephan Arndt. The research discussed in this article examines the relationship between the deployment of a military parent and the alcohol and drug usage among the children of these deployed military parents (Acion, Ramirez, Jorge, & Arndt, 2013). Children of deployed military parents make up a large population group in the United States. In 2010, “approximately 1.99 million US children had at least 1 parent in active duty” (Acion et al., 2013). Research on the effects of military deployment
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Also, more than twice as many students in both deployed groups reported using marijuana or misusing prescription drugs within the past 30 days, as compared to the non-deployment group (Acion et al., 2013). In regards to the rate of illegal drug use, it was three times higher in the deployed group than in the non-deployed group (Acion et al., 2013). While there were no significant interactions between deployment status with sex and race/ethnicity, there was a significant interaction between deployment depending on the student’s grade and/or living arrangement (Acion et al., 2013). When looking at overall drinking rates across all grades, there was a 7-9% increase attributable to deployment (Acion et al., 2013). There was also a 5-8% increase attributable to deployment for binge drinking rates across all grades (Acion et al., 2013). In terms of marijuana usage rates, there was a 1.98% increase for sixth grade students, a 3.36% increase for eighth grade students, and a 4.65% increase for eleventh grade students, all attributable to deployment (Acion et al., 2013). When looking at students with a deployed parent who were not living with a parent or immediate relative, there was a 42% increased risk for binge drinking and a 25% increased risk for marijuana usage, compared to those students from non-deployed families (Acion et …show more content…
These effects proved to be consistent among all grades in the Iowa students who participated in this study. Parental military deployment may also be a risk factor for living arrangement disruption, as many children in this study with deployed parents were often not living with immediate relatives (Acion et al., 2013). The findings in this study suggest that adolescents belonging to families with at least one deployed military parent should be considered at a higher risk for substance use than children from non-military parents (Acion et al., 2013). This study proves that military deployment can be a grave situation for those adolescents belonging to military families. Interventions should be utilized among these vulnerable children who are experiencing a reduction in parental support and an increase of stress in the home environment (Acion et al., 2013). This study suggests that those working in schools and health-care settings should provide access to support services for these high-risk children, such as early screening for substance use (Acion et al., 2013). Providing the interventions necessary for these children is crucial to their long-term mental and physical health and
Also, more than twice as many students in both deployed groups reported using marijuana or misusing prescription drugs within the past 30 days, as compared to the non-deployment group (Acion et al., 2013). In regards to the rate of illegal drug use, it was three times higher in the deployed group than in the non-deployed group (Acion et al., 2013). While there were no significant interactions between deployment status with sex and race/ethnicity, there was a significant interaction between deployment depending on the student’s grade and/or living arrangement (Acion et al., 2013). When looking at overall drinking rates across all grades, there was a 7-9% increase attributable to deployment (Acion et al., 2013). There was also a 5-8% increase attributable to deployment for binge drinking rates across all grades (Acion et al., 2013). In terms of marijuana usage rates, there was a 1.98% increase for sixth grade students, a 3.36% increase for eighth grade students, and a 4.65% increase for eleventh grade students, all attributable to deployment (Acion et al., 2013). When looking at students with a deployed parent who were not living with a parent or immediate relative, there was a 42% increased risk for binge drinking and a 25% increased risk for marijuana usage, compared to those students from non-deployed families (Acion et …show more content…
These effects proved to be consistent among all grades in the Iowa students who participated in this study. Parental military deployment may also be a risk factor for living arrangement disruption, as many children in this study with deployed parents were often not living with immediate relatives (Acion et al., 2013). The findings in this study suggest that adolescents belonging to families with at least one deployed military parent should be considered at a higher risk for substance use than children from non-military parents (Acion et al., 2013). This study proves that military deployment can be a grave situation for those adolescents belonging to military families. Interventions should be utilized among these vulnerable children who are experiencing a reduction in parental support and an increase of stress in the home environment (Acion et al., 2013). This study suggests that those working in schools and health-care settings should provide access to support services for these high-risk children, such as early screening for substance use (Acion et al., 2013). Providing the interventions necessary for these children is crucial to their long-term mental and physical health and