Veterans Helping Veterans
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LIST OF ISSUES EFFECTING VETERANS
There are several factors that contribute veteran homelessness:
Families not remaining together after multiple deployments.
Veterans turning to substance abuse to cope with changes in their lives or to deal with PTSD.
Veterans suffering from a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) , contributing to the loss of the ability to work, strained relationships and poor decisions..
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is considered a risk factor for homelessness among veterans. The lifetime prevalence of PTSD among all U.S. adults is estimated to be around 6.8%. Research suggests that this rate is much higher among veterans. As many as 30% of Vietnam veterans experience PTSD at some point during their lives.
The lifetime prevalence of PTSD is around 10.1% for veterans of the Gulf War and the current prevalence is around 13.8% for veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom.
These increased rates of PTSD among veterans may play a role in explaining why they are overrepresented in the U.S. homeless population. While veterans make up 9.7% of the total population, they represent around 12.3% of the homeless population.
TRAMATIC BRAIN INJURY
More than 450,000 U.S. service members were diagnosed with a TBI from 2000 to 2021.1
Studies suggest that service members and Veterans who have sustained a TBI may have ongoing symptoms, experience co-occurring health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.
It is currently unclear if poorer physical and mental health outcomes following a TBI (such as depression) among Veterans are specific to the injury or if other factors, such as deployment and exposure to combat, play a stronger role.
CHEMICAL DEPENDANCY
Almost 20 percent of military men and women who have served in Afghanistan or Iraq suffer from PTSD, depression, or traumatic brain injury, all of which are conditions that predispose them to drug use in the military. Mental health conditions and substance abuse are the leading cause of hospitalizations among U.S. troops.
The Causes of Substance Abuse in the Military Include the Following:
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High incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder: Personnel in the armed forces have to endure extremely distressing events on multiple occasions. The PTSD that arises can be tough to deal with, leading these veterans to turn to drugs and alcohol as a means of self-medicating.
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High incidence of mental health conditions: Veterans tend to be more prone to mental health conditions like depression and anxiety based on the mental stress that active service causes. Some may find alcohol or illicit drugs to help deal with their symptoms.
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Combat exposure: Exposure to combat increases the risk of combat injuries and trauma. These, in turn, can increase the risk of mental health disorders. All of these can cause veteran alcohol abuse and drug abuse.
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Traumatic brain injuries: Veterans may have experienced traumatic brain injury during their campaigns, and this has been shown to increase the risk of substance abuse due to impairments in cognition.
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History of substance misuse during active service: A track record of substance abuse or misuse can be a pointer to substance abuse in the future, even for those who are not in active service.
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Chronic pain due to overuse and injuries: Alcohol and prescription drugs are used to resolve pain from injuries obtained during service years.
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Inability to cope with stress: Veterans may feel that alcohol, prescription, or illicit drugs serve as a means to take the edge off. An abuse pattern may emerge from this.
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Difficulty in transitioning to civilian life: During life in the barracks or during service, members do not need to deal with the struggles of life such as housing, food, and others. It can be challenging to cope once they dive back into civilian life, and this stress can lead them to abuse alcohol or drugs.
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Reluctance to seek help due to stigma: There are options available for veterans seeking help for mental conditions, but some may feel a form of stigma if they admit their problems. They may choose to deal with their symptoms by misusing prescription drugs.