3 veteran alcoholism statistics that are important to understand

Veterans are more vulnerable to developing a substance use disorder (SUD) than someone with no military experience. An SUD is a condition that involves chronic use of a substance that is detrimental to several spheres of a person’s life. These spheres include a person’s health and social functioning. Clinical and psychological intervention may be key in treating substance use disorders, but there are gaps in current SUD programming.

If you’re interested in learning more about veteran alcoholism statistics, here’s what you need to know.

What are some veteran alcoholism statistics that are important to know?

  • Many first-time patients at the VA meet SUD diagnostic criteria — One study found over a period of 10 years that 11% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who were first-time VA patients were qualified to be diagnosed with substance use disorder in some form. 
  • Young, male veterans are more likely to experience an SUD than their civilian counterparts — A study found that male veterans aged 18 to 25 were more likely to develop an SUD than civilians of the same age and gender.
  • Alcohol-related SUD is more commonly found in male veterans than female veterans — According to the same research mentioned directly above, the rate of alcohol-related SUD diagnoses is higher for male veterans than for female veterans: About 10.5% of male veterans have been diagnosed with an alcohol-related SUD, compared to 4.8% of female veterans.

Valor Healthcare wants to help veterans manage their alcohol-related substance use disorder

Valor Healthcare is a veteran-founded healthcare organization. We aim to provide whole healthcare services to veterans and other patriots. We are the largest contracted provider of outpatient healthcare services for veterans, and we take pride in delivering world-class services. Valor is one of the first community-based outpatient clinics accredited for ambulatory care by the Joint Commission and continues to focus on quality across all our lines of business. 

Valor Healthcare is a team made up of veterans and leading clinicians. We are passionate about making resources available to those who have served our country. Valor was first established in 2004, when an Army veteran and a Navy veteran joined together to create something they both believed in — good-quality outpatient care for veterans. 

Interested in the types of services a veteran-focused health consultant company can provide? We specialize in each of the following:

  • Outpatient clinic operations.
  • Occupational health.
  • Behavioral health.
  • Population health.
  • Value-added services.

Would you benefit from any of the services listed above? If you’re a veteran dealing with alcoholism and you don’t want to be just another statistic, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for guidance. We specialize in providing care to veterans with substance use disorders. Valor Healthcare partners with public and private medical clinics across the nation to bring high-quality healthcare to American veterans. If you are a healthcare professional, you can partner with us to give your patients access to data-driven, 21st-century care.