United States National Guard members are more likely to suffer alcohol abuse problems when they have been deployed for combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.  These problems include binge drinking, alcohol dependence, and other alcoholism-related issues.  Alcohol treatment centers must take into account that these individuals may require mental health treatment as well.

While National Guard members face high stress situations at home, it is understandable that those who have been in combat experience stress at even higher levels.  Either seeing combat or being in a support position places an individual in a position where lives are constantly on the line.  When they return from Iraq and Afghanistan, where alcohol is prohibited, some will turn to it as a stress reliever.

Initially, they may claim to simply be “blowing off some steam”, or “decompressing”.  But the mind of individuals at risk for alcohol dependence remembers stress-relieving qualities of alcohol.  This can be considered as the time when an imaginary line is crossed from social drinking to alcoholism.  After all, binge drinking to forget problems is an early sign of alcoholism.

Alcohol abuse among returning National Guard members can thus be considered a sign that emotional problems are going untreated.  When combined with problems in relationships, finances, or legal issues, it is a clear sign that treatment is needed now.  And since these emotional problems may be due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from combat, it is important to include mental health treatment.

This treatment can’t come too early.  The longer PTSD and emotional issues go untreated; alcohol dependence is more likely to make them worse.  Caught early, these individuals can heal from emotional pain and may avoid future problems with alcohol dependence.  They can also avoid the pain of alcohol withdrawal and a trip to a medical detoxification unit.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides mental health treatment for co-occurring disorders as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence or drug addiction, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.