Iraq war strains army mental health system

Mental health videos

Face your phobias
Sept. 2: People magazine’s Galina Espinoza discusses the phobias some celebrities have; Dr. Gail Saltz offers ways to deal with fears.

Stress leading to 'desk rage'

Get more self-confidence

Coping with life’s challenges

Turning to shock therapy to battle depression

Alcohol abuse
Several soldiers interviewed by Reuters said the first weeks back for many younger soldiers was devoted to drinking.

"The first month back, everybody got drunk, pretty much," said William Buehler, 23, adding that as a married soldier he did not participate in such drinking. "You've been gone 15 months, that's what everybody wants to do," he said.

Among a series of incidents fueling concern about drinking, a Fort Drum soldier was arrested in March and charged with vehicular assault while intoxicated after ploughing his car into a crowd outside a nightclub, injuring seven soldiers.

Story continues below ↓

In an effort to shame those who go too far, Gen. Oates decided in March to print the names and photographs of soldiers arrested for drink driving in the base newspaper.

Several soldiers interviewed on base praised the move as a good deterrent, but Willis of Veterans for America said many of those named were in the brigade that just came back from Iraq.

Click for related content

Brain-injured vets still not getting proper care
Soldiers won't have to disclose past therapy
'Brain pacemaker' could ease depression

She said while nobody would justify drunk driving, it was important to examine the link to combat stress. "They're making it the full responsibility of the soldier when the rest of the world has come to realize alcohol is a symptom of PTSD."

Tom Berger, chairman of a PTSD committee at the Vietnam Veterans of America, said alcohol abuse was typical.

"A lot of these folks, all indications are they're self-medicating. They come home and they try to deal with this stuff with a 12-pack (of beer)," he said.

< Prev | 1 | 2