The Cost of Freedom: Military and Veteran Substance Use Disorders
$32.00
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a significant problem among military veterans and are associated with numerous deleterious effects. Service members use substances such as alcohol, prescription medication, tobacco, and illicit drugs. While service members use illicit substances at lower rates than the general population, binge drinking rates in the military exceed those among the general population. A significant portion of active-duty service members will experience a substance use disorder during their enrollment in the military. Drug use can negatively affect combat readiness and reduce the performance of troops.
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- Educate clients about current information on the prevalence of SUD among military veterans.
- Identify clinical characteristics of SUD.
- Apply evidence-based treatment practices for substance use disorder.
Social workers completing this course receive 2 General/Substance-Specific asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 2 hours of Clinical, Evidence-Based Practices, Substance-Specific and General Skill Building continuing education training.
Course Instructor: Dr. Paul Hardy, D. Min., CSAC, NMAC
Recording Date: 4/26/2024
Recorded Live Webinar with downloadable presentation slides and/or handouts, evaluation, and a required quiz. The learner is required to pass with a 70% or higher to achieve the CE certificate of completion. The learner is able to reset the test until a satisfactory score is achieved. CE Training Workshops, LLC, provider #1770, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/2/2022 – 8/2/2025. CE Training Workshops, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7091. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE Training Workshops, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. System Requirements: Firefox, Chrome, Brave, Safari, Edge on any modern operating system (Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS). A desktop browser is recommended. We do not provide support resources for issues encountered using a mobile device. For more information about our policies and board approval statements, please visit our FAQS page.
Paul Hardy, D. Min., CSAC, NMAC is a National Master Addictions Counselor (NMAC) with a Doctor of Ministry degree in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University. Dr. Paul has thirty years of experience in pastoral counseling, substance use work, trauma recovery, and anger management work.
The Cost of Freedom: Military and Veteran Substance Use Disorders (2 HR) Syllabus
I. Understanding the Scope of the Problem
- Review the prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) among active-duty personnel and veterans
- Examine the connection between binge drinking and military culture
- Identify rising trends in substance misuse despite prevention efforts
- Explore the impact of substance use on readiness, performance, and overall health
II. Contributing Psychological and Environmental Factors
- Examine links between PTSD, depression, anxiety, and increased substance use
- Identify the effects of stress, neuroticism, and low emotionality on drinking behavior
- Understand environmental stressors such as deployment, combat exposure, and reintegration challenges
- Consider the influence of early interpersonal trauma and adverse childhood experiences
III. Specific Substances and Patterns of Use
- Discuss alcohol use as the most prevalent SUD in military populations
- Review rising rates of prescription opioid use and overprescribing patterns
- Identify risks related to polypharmacy and overlapping prescriptions
- Highlight trends in marijuana, illicit drug use, and smoking among veterans
IV. PTSD and the Substance Use Connection
- Recognize hypervigilance, nightmares, emotional numbing, and irritability as PTSD symptoms
- Understand how substance use is often used to self-medicate PTSD symptoms
- Explore the role of avoidance, isolation, and emotional dysregulation in substance use
- Link trauma reactivity to increased relapse risk
V. Diagnostic Criteria and Prevalence Considerations
- Define SUD using DSM-5 criteria based on symptom count and severity
- Understand how changes from DSM-IV and ICD-9 affect prevalence reporting
- Note challenges in VA diagnostic data and underreporting in non-VA veterans
VI. Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches
- Implement SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) as a preventative tool
- Use CBT and contingency management for behavioral change and relapse prevention
- Apply motivational interviewing to enhance treatment engagement
- Utilize digital and web-based interventions for younger veterans
VII. Pharmacological Interventions
- Use FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder such as naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram
- Treat opioid use disorder with methadone, buprenorphine, and extended-release naltrexone
- Explore medications under study for co-occurring PTSD and SUD such as prazosin and topiramate
VIII. Current Treatment Challenges
- Address stigma related to mental health and addiction in military culture
- Integrate SUD care into general mental health and primary care to reduce stigma
- Recognize access issues for rural veterans and the benefits and limitations of telehealth
- Tailor treatment approaches to match the needs and realities of veteran populations
IX. Gender-Specific Considerations
- Acknowledge the increasing rates of substance use among female veterans
- Recognize the impact of military sexual trauma and domestic violence
- Understand the need for women-only or gender-responsive programming
- Address logistical barriers such as childcare and comfort in mixed-gender settings
X. Dual Diagnosis and Integrated Treatment
- Understand that most veterans with SUD also have co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses
- Explore the integration of PTSD and SUD treatment to reduce relapse and improve outcomes
- Recognize common medical comorbidities and psychosocial impacts among dually diagnosed veterans
- Support integrated, trauma-informed approaches that address both conditions simultaneously
