Alcohol Problems in the United States Armed Forces,
Abstract
This paper reviews epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of alcohol problems in the Armed Forces. Studies by Cahalan of drinking patterns in the United States Army indicated high rates of problem drinking for all ranks with greater prevalence for younger men and personnel at overseas bases. Comparison of male civilians and Army enlisted men revealed that enlisted men drank more heavily and had more alcohol-related problems than civilians of comparable age. A survey of United States Navy enlisted men corroborated the finding of high rates of problem drinking in the military population. Hospitalization rates for alcoholism increase sharply with age in the Navy male enlisted population -- from approximately 25 per 100,000 per year at age 18-25 to more than 400 per 100,000 at age 40. Alcoholics should be differentiated into subtypes based upon causal factors and prognosis; the present diagnostic scheme has a number of inadequacies. In particular, primary alcoholism should be differentiated from alcohol problems that are secondary to other psychiatric disorders. The Navy alcohol rehabilitation program is described and issues of treatment effectiveness are discussed. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA045226
Entities
People
- Marc A. Schuckit
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center