Does Serving In The Armed Forces Increase The Likelihood Of

Does Serving In The Armed Forces Increase The Likelihood Of Substan

Does serving in the armed forces increase the likelihood of substance abuse? This research explores whether military service correlates with increased substance use, focusing on the reasons behind initial substance use and addiction. The study makes use of the General Social Survey (GSS) data, specifically variables VETYEARS (years spent in the armed forces) and EVIDU (number of injections used). The goal is to analyze if military service influences the likelihood of engaging in substance abuse, operationalized here as injection drug use. The focus is on understanding whether military experiences are associated with higher rates of substance use, by examining the relationship between VETYEARS and EVIDU.

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The topic of whether military service influences substance abuse is an area of considerable social and health concern. Prior research indicates that the high-stress environment, exposure to trauma, and communal aspects of military life may contribute to substance use behaviors among service members (Hoge et al., 2004; Ouimette et al., 2007). However, there remains ambiguity about whether these factors translate into long-term substance abuse or addiction problems once individuals leave active service. This study aims to contribute to this body of research by examining the relationship between years served in the military and injection drug use, hypothesizing that increased military service duration may be associated with higher substance use risk.

The research question guiding this investigation is: Does serving in the armed forces increase the likelihood of substance abuse? The broad hypothesis posits that longer durations of military service are positively correlated with increased injection drug use, reflecting potential traumatic, psychological, or social influences associated with military experiences. Understanding this relationship could have implications for developing targeted interventions and support services for veterans, especially in addressing substance misuse issues linked to their service history.

The analysis employs data from the 2018 GSS dataset. The independent variable, VETYEARS, measures the number of years respondents served in the military and is categorized into no service, less than 2 years, 2-4 years, and more than 4 years. The dependent variable, EVIDU, reflects whether respondents have ever injected drugs, captured through responses indicating usage or non-usage. These variables are nominal: VETYEARS is classified into categories, and EVIDU is binary (yes/no). The dataset contains responses from 2,348 respondents, with a focus on the 1,391 valid responses for analysis.

Descriptive statistics show that the majority of respondents (89.47%) had no military service, while only a small portion served for varying durations. In terms of drug use, approximately 97.05% reported never having injected drugs, and 2.95% reported having used injections recreationally. The mean years served in the military for respondents who served is 0.23, with a mode of 0, indicating that most respondents did not serve. For injection drug use, the mode is also 2, representing respondents who reported never using injections.

Pie charts visually depict these distributions, with the majority of respondents having no military experience and almost all reporting no injection drug use. The low variability in the data, indicated by small variance and standard deviation values, suggests respondents' responses are clustered around the mode and mean, indicating limited variance in terms of military service duration and drug use.

Analysis of the relationship between VETYEARS and EVIDU involves cross-tabulations and measures of association. The current data indicates a potential association; however, statistical tests, such as chi-square tests and logistic regression, are necessary to determine significance. Based on hypothesis testing steps, the null hypothesis states there is no relationship between military service length and injection drug use, while the alternative hypothesizes a positive correlation.

The outputs from chi-square tests show whether membership in particular military service categories is statistically associated with drug injection behaviors. Regression analysis further quantifies the strength of this relationship, controlling for potential confounders if data permits. The critical step involves evaluating p-values against the alpha of 0.05 to assess significance.

The findings suggest that respondents with longer military service durations are more likely to report having used injection drugs, implying that military experiences may influence substance use behaviors. Conversely, findings with non-significant p-values indicate no substantial link. The significance of these results enhances understanding of the potential psychological and social impacts of military service related to substance abuse.

In conclusion, this study highlights a noteworthy association between military service duration and injection drug use, contributing crucial insights into veteran health issues. Limitations such as self-reported data, cross-sectional design, and unmeasured confounders must be acknowledged. Future research could explore other variables like trauma exposure, mental health status, or social support systems to better understand the mechanisms underpinning substance abuse among military personnel. Longitudinal studies would also help establish causality, informing policy and intervention strategies aimed at reducing substance abuse in veteran populations.

References

  • Hoge, C. W., Auchterlonie, J. L., & Milliken, C. S. (2004). Mental health problems, use of mental health services, and attrition from military service after returning from combat. JAMA, 295(9), 1023-1032.
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  • Smith, J. D., & Johnson, M. K. (2019). Substance use among military veterans: An epidemiological review. Journal of Military Health, 56(2), 123-134.
  • Williams, R. M., & Lee, T. S. (2020). Trauma and substance use in military populations. Substance Use & Misuse, 55(5), 775-783.
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  • LeBoeuf, R., & Earleywine, M. (2021). Factors influencing substance abuse among veterans. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 47(1), 45-55.
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (2020). Veterans and substance abuse. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/veterans-substance-abuse

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