@article{ref1,
title="Changes in alcohol use after traumatic experiences: The impact of combat on Army National Guardsmen",
journal="Drug and alcohol dependence",
year="2014",
author="Russell, Dale W. and Russell, Cristel Antonia and Riviere, Lyndon A. and Thomas, Jeffrey L. and Wilk, Joshua E. and Bliese, Paul D.",
volume="139",
number="",
pages="47-52",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: This research documents the impact of combat experiences on alcohol use and misuse among National Guard soldiers. Whereas much research regarding combat personnel is based on post-experience data, this study's design uses both pre- and post-deployment data to identify the association between different types of combat experiences and changes in substance use and misuse. <br><br>METHOD: A National Guard Infantry Brigade Combat Team was surveyed before and after its deployment to Iraq in 2005-2006. Members of the unit completed anonymous surveys regarding behavioral health and alcohol use and, in the post-survey, the combat experiences they had during deployment. The unit was surveyed 3 months prior to its deployment and 3 months after its deployment. <br><br>RESULTS: Prevalence rates of alcohol use increased from 70.8% pre-deployment to 80.5% post-deployment. Prevalence rates of alcohol misuse more than doubled, increasing from 8.51% before deployment to 19.15% after deployment. However, among the combat experiences examined in this study, changes in alcohol misuse post-deployment appear to be solely affected by the combat experience of killing. Alcohol misuse decreased amongst those who experienced killing during combat. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the role of combat experiences on substance use.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0376-8716",
doi="10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.03.004",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.03.004"
}