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Substance Use and Readjustment to Home

Substance Use and Readjustment to Home. Common experiences reported by OEF/OIF Veterans after homecoming:. Stress Anger Depression Marital Issues Financial Issues Anxiety . Other common experiences:. Problems sleeping Feeling “like a fish out of water” Missing “buddies”

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Substance Use and Readjustment to Home

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  1. Substance Use and Readjustment to Home

  2. Common experiences reported by OEF/OIF Veterans after homecoming: • Stress • Anger • Depression • Marital Issues • Financial Issues • Anxiety

  3. Other common experiences: • Problems sleeping • Feeling “like a fish out of water” • Missing “buddies” • Missing “the adrenalin rush” • Irritability or agitation • Physical pain • Emotional pain

  4. If this sounds like your experience, you’re not alone. But sometimes alcohol or drugs seem like a handy “escape” Sometimes alcohol or drugs become “self-medication”

  5. For the majority of people, alcohol use never becomes a problem ********** But how much is too much?

  6. One guideline: Men: > 4 drinks on one occasion or > 14 drinks per week Women: > 3 drinks on one occasion or > 7 drinks per week

  7. What is “a drink”? One One One 12 oz. = 5 oz. = 1.5 oz Beer glass of “shot” of wine liquor or brandy

  8. Another guideline: • Have you become annoyed by other people criticizing your drinking? • Do you ever feel guilty about how much you’re drinking? • Do you drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?

  9. Risk Factors: These put you at greater risk for developing problems with substances • Genetics: Family history of addiction or abuse • Problems such as PTSD, Depression, Anxiety • Life Problems: Situational problems when you feel you lack the coping skills to deal with them successfully

  10. Consequences of Alcohol Abuse: • Family stress, arguments, alienation • Risk-taking: e.g., driving drunk, trying drugs, getting into fights • Work problems: absences, lateness, performance problems • Health problems: hangovers, “shakes”, liver problems

  11. DRUGS 101: Useful facts about other drugs: Cocaine • Instantaneous elevated mood • Lasts @ 30 minutes; then, depressed mood, agitation • No “safe” use: short-acting, so very addictive • Responsible for more ER visits than other drugs • Harms brain, heart, blood vessels, lungs; can cause sudden death

  12. Heroin • “Downer”, depressant, painkiller • Derived from morphine • Initial feeling of euphoria; then, drowsiness, “nodding” • Causes damage to liver, blood vessels, lung problems

  13. Cannabis • Most commonly used illegal drug in U.S. • Short term: increases heart rate, anxiety, paranoia, distorts perception, memory and learning problems • Long term: cancer: 5 joints/week as dangerous as 1 pack cigarettes/day NOT THE ‘HEALTHY” “ORGANIC” ALTERNATIVE!

  14. Prescription Drugs • Need to work closely with M.D. when prescribed meds with potential for abuse • Most common/fastest growing type of drug abuse among young adults in U.S. • No “safe” use when not prescribed • Examples: • Opioids: Vicodan, Percocet, Oxycontin • Depressants: Valium, Librium • Stimulants: Ritalin, Dexadrine

  15. Two other things to watch out for: • Gambling can also turn into an addiction for some people; the highs of anticipating and winning can be an adrenalin rush; the lows and losing can be devastating • Tobacco: Nicotine is also a drug; cigarettes contain numerous carcinogens and are also highly addictive

  16. It can be very challenging at times to cope with readjusting to being back home. DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ARE NOT THE SOLUTION.

  17. “I can work it out on my own”.“I can’t look weak”.“Nobody else would understand”“What would they think”? • Too often veterans allow thinking like this to stand in the way of seeking answers and seeking assistance with their problems. • It hurts your family as well as you when problems continue unaddressed.

  18. ALL OF THESE ISSUES HAVE SOLUTIONS THAT WORK! Help is available if you feel you are overusing substances. The VA offers multiple levels of care including prevention, detox, intensive care, and outpatient services.

  19. We operate from a recovery perspective***************************** We help you to learn coping skills and find solutions to life issues so that you don’t look to substances as an option.

  20. YOU ANSWERED THE CALL WHEN WE NEEDED YOU. Allow us the honor of serving you as you readjust to being back home.

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