Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment Barriers:
Military Life vs. Civilian Life
Marina Herrera
Butte College
Abstract
This paper explores the interesting relationship between substance abuse and mental health problems among military and civilian life. As well as stigma barriers to treatment within a military vs. a civilian setting. The article “Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment in the Military: Lessons Learned and a Way Forward” written by Katie Witkiewitz and Armando Estrada takes a look at the treatment barriers and how they are not necessarily unique to military settings and/or civilian settings. They also explore how the military setting itself can help destigmatize substance abuse and mental health problems …show more content…
The differences in military personnel’s perception of substance abuse and mental health problems keep veterans from seeking voluntary help. Britt (2011) Clinton-Sherrod (2011) discovered that soldiers tend to view substance abuse problems as normative behavior that is associated with the military culture, “that is, drink heavily but do not let it affect your performance because if you do it’s your fault”. However mental health problems are viewed as counter to military culture. Soldiers view mental health problems as a sign of weakness; which is not tolerated in the military. Seeking help when mentally disturbed has a negative cogitation in the military, because of the inability to perform, as well as the stigmatization that results from a soldier simply admitting they need psychiatric help. These barriers to treatment for soldiers have been identified as significant barriers to treatment for civilians as well (Witkiewitz, Estrada, 2011). Tucker, Vichinich and Rippens (2004) found that stigma, negative attitudes toward treatment, the belief that treatment is unnecessary, and economical factors are the most significant reasons invdiviuals do not seek treatment. Therefore, indivual and organizational barriers associated with substance abuse and mental health problems in a military setting are almost the same as those barriers found in …show more content…
Because, of the organization of the military they are one of the only populations of people that have an opportunity to enroll 100% of its members in substance abuse and mental health programming. The Institute of Medicine and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (2003) believes in a four-tier preventive intervention classification system. If this tiered system was used among society at large the benefits could be imaginable. The first tier, universal prevention targeted at a large population, focuses on educating those about the problem and skills to prevent it. The second tier, selective prevention focuses on those whose risk for developing mental problems or substance abuse. The third tier, indicated prevention’s goal is identifying those who exhibit early signs of mental health problems and substance abuse. Finally, tertiary prevention targets those who already exhibit problematic levels of substance abuse or mental health problems and need relapse prevention or counseling. This tier system could be successful within the military and improve the lives of soldiers when they enter civilian life. (Witkiewitz, Estrada, 2011).
Substance abuse and mental health problems are inevitable whether you are in the military or a civilian, because not one of us is “normal” or susceptible to them.
Military Life vs. Civilian Life
Marina Herrera
Butte College
Abstract
This paper explores the interesting relationship between substance abuse and mental health problems among military and civilian life. As well as stigma barriers to treatment within a military vs. a civilian setting. The article “Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment in the Military: Lessons Learned and a Way Forward” written by Katie Witkiewitz and Armando Estrada takes a look at the treatment barriers and how they are not necessarily unique to military settings and/or civilian settings. They also explore how the military setting itself can help destigmatize substance abuse and mental health problems …show more content…
The differences in military personnel’s perception of substance abuse and mental health problems keep veterans from seeking voluntary help. Britt (2011) Clinton-Sherrod (2011) discovered that soldiers tend to view substance abuse problems as normative behavior that is associated with the military culture, “that is, drink heavily but do not let it affect your performance because if you do it’s your fault”. However mental health problems are viewed as counter to military culture. Soldiers view mental health problems as a sign of weakness; which is not tolerated in the military. Seeking help when mentally disturbed has a negative cogitation in the military, because of the inability to perform, as well as the stigmatization that results from a soldier simply admitting they need psychiatric help. These barriers to treatment for soldiers have been identified as significant barriers to treatment for civilians as well (Witkiewitz, Estrada, 2011). Tucker, Vichinich and Rippens (2004) found that stigma, negative attitudes toward treatment, the belief that treatment is unnecessary, and economical factors are the most significant reasons invdiviuals do not seek treatment. Therefore, indivual and organizational barriers associated with substance abuse and mental health problems in a military setting are almost the same as those barriers found in …show more content…
Because, of the organization of the military they are one of the only populations of people that have an opportunity to enroll 100% of its members in substance abuse and mental health programming. The Institute of Medicine and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (2003) believes in a four-tier preventive intervention classification system. If this tiered system was used among society at large the benefits could be imaginable. The first tier, universal prevention targeted at a large population, focuses on educating those about the problem and skills to prevent it. The second tier, selective prevention focuses on those whose risk for developing mental problems or substance abuse. The third tier, indicated prevention’s goal is identifying those who exhibit early signs of mental health problems and substance abuse. Finally, tertiary prevention targets those who already exhibit problematic levels of substance abuse or mental health problems and need relapse prevention or counseling. This tier system could be successful within the military and improve the lives of soldiers when they enter civilian life. (Witkiewitz, Estrada, 2011).
Substance abuse and mental health problems are inevitable whether you are in the military or a civilian, because not one of us is “normal” or susceptible to them.