Citation

Jacobson IG, Williams EC, Seelig AD, Littman AJ, Maynard CC, Bricker JB, Rull RP, Boyko EJ. J. Addict. Med. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Leidos, Inc., San Diego, CA (IGJ); Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center, Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA (ADS, AJL, CCM, EJB); Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA (AJL, EJB); Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA (ECW, CCM); Seattle-Denver Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Health Services Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA (ECW, AJL, CCM); Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (JBB); Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (JBB); Deployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA (IGJ, RPR).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Society of Addiction Medicine, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/ADM.0000000000000596

PMID

31821191

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether military separation (Veteran), service component (active duty, Reserve/National Guard), and combat deployment are prospectively associated with continuing unhealthy alcohol use among US military service members.

METHODS: Millennium Cohort Study participants were evaluated for continued or chronic unhealthy alcohol use, defined by screening positive at baseline and the next consecutive follow-up survey for heavy episodic, heavy weekly, or problem drinking. Participants meeting criteria for chronic unhealthy alcohol use were followed for up to 12 years to determine continued unhealthy use. Multivariable regression models-adjusted for demographics, military service factors, and behavioral and mental health characteristics-assessed whether separation status, service component, or combat deployment were associated with continuation of 3 unhealthy drinking outcomes: heavy weekly (sample n = 2653), heavy episodic (sample n = 22,933), and problem drinking (sample n = 2671).

RESULTS: In adjusted models, Veterans (compared with actively serving personnel) and Reserve/Guard (compared with active duty members) had a significantly higher likelihood of continued chronic use for heavy weekly, heavy episodic, and problem drinking (Veteran odds ratio [OR] range 1.17-1.47; Reserve/Guard OR range 1.25-1.29). Deployers without combat experience were less likely than nondeployers to continue heavy weekly drinking (OR 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.61-0.91).

CONCLUSIONS: The elevated likelihood of continued unhealthy alcohol use among Veterans and Reserve/Guard members suggests that strategies to reduce unhealthy drinking targeted to these populations may be warranted.

Language: en