More smoking and heavy drinking in America's military

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Also Included In: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 11 Mar 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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America's military are smoking more and drinking more heavily, according to a Pentagon survey. The biggest rise is among the younger troops.

Consumption of illegal drugs has neither risen nor fallen. It is still below the civilian rate.

According to the Pentagon survey, many have mental health problems and problems with stress, and many are not seeking help (a sizeable number, says the Pentagon).

More than 50% of those interviewed said that counseling would probably compromise their career prospects.

This survey has just been released. However, the data in it refers to the military before troops were deployed to the Middle East last year.

They do not have figures for the mental state of troops after the invasion of Iraq.

Suicides in the Army did rise last year in July, but later went back to normal levels.

12,756 troops were questioned in this survey (2002). It was carried out at 30 military centers around the world. About 33% felt a lot of stress in their military duties, 30% felt some stress.

The most frequent reasons for stress were:

-- For men - Deployment 18.9%

-- For men - Separation from family 18.7%

-- For women - Changes in personal life 21.4%

-- For women - Separation from family 21.2%

-- For women - Deployment 19.6%

Those who were stressed were twice as likely to have an injury, illness or workplace accident.

-- 5% had contemplated suicide within the previous twelve months.

-- 40% of the heavy drinkers were stressed, 30% those who did not drink were stressed.

-- 18.1% were heavy drinkers (before 15.4%)

-- 27.3% of 18-25 year olds were heavy drinkers (civilian population is 15.3%)

-- 34% smoked (30% before)

-- 30% started smoking after they joined the military

-- 3.4% took illegal drugs (before 2.7%) About 12% of civilian population take illegal drugs

-- 41% said they found it stressful or very stressful because they were women in the army

-- 49% of women in the navy felt stressed because they were women in the navy

-- 65% were satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs (male and female figures here were the same).

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