When Coping Becomes a Problem
After the military, many veterans find themselves reaching for alcohol or other substances to manage pain — physical or emotional. This is not weakness. It is a common response to extraordinary stress. But it is also a cycle that, without intervention, gets worse over time.
The Numbers
Research consistently shows that veterans have higher rates of:
- Alcohol use disorder
- Tobacco use
- Prescription opioid misuse (especially among veterans with chronic pain)
- Cannabis use (increasingly common)
Veterans with PTSD are especially vulnerable — substance use is often an attempt to self-medicate intrusive memories, hyperarousal, and insomnia.
Signs That Use Has Become a Problem
- Drinking or using to feel "normal"
- Needing more to get the same effect (tolerance)
- Unsuccessful attempts to cut down
- Continuing despite problems at home or work
- Withdrawal symptoms when you stop
- Missing obligations because of use
The Self-Medication Trap
Alcohol and sedatives may temporarily reduce anxiety and improve sleep — but they ultimately worsen both. They suppress REM sleep, increase depression, lower resilience, and make PTSD harder to treat.
Treatment Works
The VA offers free, comprehensive substance use disorder treatment including:
- Detox (medically supervised when needed)
- Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid and alcohol use disorders
- Dual-diagnosis treatment (PTSD + substance use together)
VA Substance Use Disorder programs: VA.gov/health-care/health-needs-conditions/substance-use-problems
You Don't Have to Hit Rock Bottom
The idea that someone must "hit rock bottom" before getting help is a myth. The earlier you address substance use, the easier recovery is and the less damage is done.
If you're not ready for treatment, that's okay — but talk to someone. A VA provider, a VSO, a peer support specialist. You don't have to figure this out alone.
Veterans Crisis Line: 988, press 1