Army needs nation's help with treating alcohol abuse

Alcohol is the self-medicating drug of choice. While some are actual alcoholics, others are not addicted to it, they are using it to kill off feelings they don't want to feel instead of using medication to treat what they do feel.

Alcohol abuse weighs on Army

By Gregg Zoroya - USA TODAY
Posted : Wednesday Feb 10, 2010 7:05:33 EST

The Army needs to double its staff of substance-abuse counselors to handle the soaring numbers of soldiers seeking alcohol treatment, said Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the Army’s No. 2 officer.

About 300 more counselors are needed to meet the demand, cut wait times and offer evening and weekend services, Chiarelli, the Army vice chief of staff, said in an interview with USA TODAY.

Last year, 9,199 soldiers enrolled in treatment after being diagnosed with alcohol problems, a 56 percent increase over 2003, when the Iraq war started, according to Army records released Monday. Overall, 16,388 sought some type of counseling, data show.

In 2003, 5,873 enrolled in treatment from the 11,309 soldiers who sought counseling.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that since 2001 and being involved in two wars ... that we probably have a higher incidence of alcohol abuse,” Chiarelli said.

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Horne, chief of Army human resources and policy, said “we need the nation’s help” in finding more counselors. The service is currently down 20 percent from its authorized staffing level of 290, said Les McFarling, director of the Army Substance Abuse Program.
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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/02/gns_army_alcohol_021010/