Most people who drink alcohol drink very little, and many people can stop taking drugs without a struggle. However, some people develop a substance use disorder – the use of alcohol or drugs that is compulsive and/or dangerous. Alcoholism, drug dependence and addiction are all complex substance abuse disorders.
Scientists and medical researchers consider alcohol or drug dependence to be a long-term illness, like asthma, hypertension or diabetes, which can be treated and managed. Each installation has a Substance Abuse Program known as the Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP), AR 600-85, which offers prevention, evaluation and treatment services. To get help, share your concerns with your Warrior Transition Unit (WTU) Cadre, Chaplain, or U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) Advocate as a starting point. They can assist you in getting the support you need.
The following resources can provide additional information on substance abuse:
What does the term “relapse” mean?
Can I attend a self-help or 12-step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous as I recover?
My spouse tells me I am in denial about my alcohol use. What are the signs of alcohol abuse?
Relapse is a recurrence of symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement, such as when a person in recovery drinks or uses drugs again after a period of abstinence.
Yes. Support groups consist of people in recovery that offer a safe place where recovering people share their experiences, strengths and hopes. Alcoholics Anonymous’ (AA’s) 12-step program helps members recover from addiction, addictive behavior and emotional suffering. These groups are free and are not supported by any particular treatment program.
Denial is the thought process in which a person does not believe he or she has a problem, despite strong evidence to the contrary. It is a way of protecting oneself from painful thoughts or feelings. An example of denial is that one may believe that they received a ticket for driving under the influence of alcohol because the police were targeting them. This false belief is called denial, which is a component of alcohol abuse.
