Resiliency factors that protect against post-deployment drug use among male US Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers

Abstract

Background: Service members who have been deployed are at risk for substance use, especially Reserve/Guard troops. However, it is unclear what modifiable factors protect against substance use in this at-risk population. Our objective was to examine the effects of pre-, peri-, and postdeployment resiliency factors on post-deployment drug use. Methods: Data were drawn from Operation: SAFETY (Soldiers and Families Excelling Through the Years), an ongoing study examining the health of US Army Reserve/National Guard (USAR/NG) soldiers. This sample consisted of male USAR/NG soldiers with at least one combat deployment (N = 228). At baseline, we assessed the following as potential protective factors: deployment preparation, unit support and support from family/friends during soldiers' most recent deployment, and marital satisfaction. We examined the relations between each of these resiliency factors with drug use at the first follow-up assessment using the NIDA modified ASSIST 2.0. Results: Greater unit support (AOR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.34, 0.92; p < 0.05) and support from family/friends during deployment (AOR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.43, 0.96; p < 0.05) were associated with lower odds of drug use, controlling for age, rank, years of military service, combat exposure, traumatic brain injury, time since last deployment, and baseline drug use. Deployment preparation and marital satisfaction were not associated with drug use (ps > 0.05). Conclusions: Social support provided to soldiers during deployment, either by his unit or his family/friends, showed evidence of protection against post-deployment drug use. In addition to existing post-deployment efforts, we recommend interventions that facilitate stronger interpersonal relationships during deployment.

Drug use over time among never‐deployed US Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers: The longitudinal effects of non‐deployment emotions and sex

“…Recent research in adolescent populations has shown that a lower sense of belonging is associated with greater approval and use of substances (Bakhtiari et al., 2020). Further, our prior work showed that soldiers with greater perceived social support from their military units were less likely to report post‐deployment drug use (Hoopsick, Benson, et al., 2019) and problems with mental health (Hoopsick, Homish, Collins, et al., 2021). Taken together with the findings of the current study, it is possible that non‐deployment might act as an ecological stressor to affect never‐deployed soldiers' propensity for substance use.…”

“…It is also possible that the social components of these negative emotions, including a loss of connectedness and camaraderie with soldiers' units due to non-deployment, may affect soldiers' psychosocial well-being. Among USAR/NG soldiers who were deployed, greater perceived social support from their military unit members during the deployment period was associated with a lower likelihood of post-deployment drug use (Hoopsick, Benson, et al, 2019). Social support from one's unit has also been associated with less mental health symptomatology among both previously-deployed and neverdeployed USAR/NG (Hoopsick, Homish, Collins, et al, 2021).…”

“…Although the majority of military‐related research on substance use has focussed on the context of deployment experiences and the post‐deployment period, several studies have demonstrated that never‐deployed service members have comparable problems with mental health and substance use as service members who were previously deployed (Hoopsick, Homish, et al., 2019; Trautmann et al., 2014; Wells et al., 2010). Notably, Tamburrino et al.…”

Translating Discovery Science. Fostering relationships: Service provider perspectives on community building among veteran families

“…The potential for IIR to foster strong social connections for veterans is significant because strong interpersonal relationships and social support predict resilience among veterans (Hoopsick et al, 2019; Kelley et al, 2017; Welsh et al, 2015) and their family members (Bowen et al, 2003; Russo & Fallon, 2015; Sheppard et al, 2010). In fact, social support is one of the most significant predictors of the development and course of posttraumatic stress (Charuvastra & Cloitre, 2008).…”

Modern Studies of Factors of Addictive Behavior of Military Servants: Foreign Experience

“…Дослідники Hoopsick, Benson, Homish, Homish [34] оцінили такі потенційно захисні фактори щодо вживання наркотиків, як наявність підготовки до відряджень, підтримка підрозділу, підтримка родини / друзів під час останнього розгортання, задоволеність шлюбом. Було встановлено, що підтримка підрозділу (р ≤ 0,05), підтримка родини / друзів під час розгортань (р ≤ 0,05) були пов'язані із більш низькою ймовірністю вживання наркотиків з урахуванням віку, звання, вислуги, бойового впливу, черепно-мозкових травм, часу з моменту останнього відрядження до бойової зони та вихідного рівня вживання наркотиків.…”