A Soldier's Health

Alcohol Abuse in the Military

Sign of patriotism - flag in barn - Iowa, USA

Today is Memorial Day - the day we remember our country's military veteran's and those actively serving in the military.  Since I am a military brat, it is easy for me to remember the men and women in the service.  

My father served in both the Army and the Air Force.  My mother died six years ago and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.  This week American flags will adorn each grave in the military cemeteries to honor our countries military.  I have many memories of growing up in a military family.  I remember . . .

. . .passing through the military gate as an Airmen salutes my father. 

. . .stocking up with groceries at the Commissary.

. . .showing my military ID to enter the Base Exchange. 

. . .relocating to a new military base every couple of years.

. . .my father kissing me goodbye as he prepared for a year in Vietnam.

Military sacrifices impact military families. 

The military lifestyle brings with it excitement and adventure along with loneliness, stress, and uprootedness.  

Military soldiers work hard and they play hard.  Attending happy hour on Friday is commonplace.  Happy hour is a time of comradarie and heavy drinking. Unfortunately, drinking which starts out as a time of relaxing can become a method of coping.  Alcohol abuse in the military is all too common.  The statistics run at over 20% of individuals in the military abuse alcohol.  This alcohol abuse is described as "drinking too much alcohol in a short span of time".   Alcohol abuse costs the Department of Defense hundreds of millions of dollars a year and causes unnecessary accidents among the soldiers. Even with such high statistics for alcohol abuse, some states like Georgia and Alaska are pushing for a new law to allow military men and women to drink alcohol at age 18.  The thinking goes like this "if you are old enough to fight in the war, you are old enough to drink a beer."  My question is - "is this wise?"   

I am wondering . . . what are your thoughts on lowering the age for alcohol consumption in the military?

To learn more about addiction and alcoholism check out the free resources at: www.stages2change.com