The document discusses several topics related to substance abuse and mental health issues within the military community, including: 1) High rates of alcohol abuse, prescription drug abuse, and mental health problems like PTSD have been found among active military members and veterans. 2) Multiple deployments, combat exposure, and other stresses of military life can contribute to these issues. 3) Treatment and support programs exist within each military branch, but stigma and other factors can make utilizing them difficult for some. 4) Families and children of military members also experience challenges like deployment separations and transitions that may relate to increased behavioral health risks.

5. Are You a Military Brat ? Residence in Foreign Countries Residence in Foreign Countries

13. Substance Abuse among the Military, Veterans, and their Families A Research Update from the National Institute on Drug Abuse April 2011 Backdrop: The ongoing operations in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) continue to strain military personnel, returning veterans, and their families. Some have experienced long and multiple deployments, combat exposure, and physical injuries, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

19. Questions ?

22. A Different Perspective

32. School

34. School

36. Life

38. Everyone is Handles Change Differently

42. The Military Family and Deployment/ Reunion Mark Mortier, LPC, MAC Genesis Counseling Centers

43. Roller-Coaster of Change

50. Different World

51. Traumatic Brain Injury

54. What to Look For? Physical Behavioral Emotional Fatigue Chest Pain Weakness * Sleep Problems Nightmares Breathing Difficulty Muscle Tremors Profuse Sweating Pounding Heart *Headaches *Withdrawal Restlessness *Emotional Outbursts Suspicion Paranoia Loss of Interest *Alcohol Consumption *Substance Abuse *Anxiety or Panic Guilt Fear Denial *Irritability *Depression *Intense Anger *Agitation Apprehension

55. Flashbacks

67. Questions

69. Friends

71. “ An alarming statistic shows an estimated 18 service members kill themselves everyday due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.” WJFW News (Wisconsin) June 7, 2011

72. Recovery Factors for Service Members Despite a century and a half of experience dealing with addiction in soldiers and veterans, the United States military continues to struggle with an epidemic of addiction to this day. In our country’s current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the unpredictability of counterinsurgency tactics has led to a very high occurrence of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among troops and veterans. Many of these veterans have high rates of co-occurrence with PTSD and substance abuse. Among many discouraging statistics about veteran wellness, a recently released report by the Army found an increase in high-risk behaviors, including substance abuse, in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. These high-risk behaviors have ultimately led to higher mortality among veterans at home than among active-duty soldiers stationed overseas.

73. Resources for Individuals, Families & Professionals: BrainLine.org is a WETA website funded by the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center through a contract with the Henry M. Jackson Foundation. Government funding support is not an endorsement of WETA or any of its products, including this website.

74. 24 Life-Changing iPhone and iPad Apps for People with Brain Injury, http://www.brainline.org/content/2011/05/23-lifechanging-iphone-ipad-apps-for-people-with-brain-injury.html Military & Veterans, http://www.brainline.org/landing_pages/categories/military.html Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), http://www.brainline.org/landing_pages/categories/ptsd.html

75. Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior http://www.brainline.org/content/2011/06/once-a-warrior-always-a-warrior.html Traumatic Brain Injury: What Military Families Need to Know http://www.brainline.org/content/2011/05/traumatic-brain-injury-tbi-what-military-families-need-to-know.html

76. Resources for Individuals, Families & Professionals: Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) assists the DoD and VA in optimizing care of service members and veterans who have sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI), at home and in the deployed setting, through state-of- the-art clinical care, innovative research, care coordination, and educational tools and resources. http://www.dvbic.org

77. 24/7 SUPPORT CRISIS INTERVENTION (24/7) US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Suicide Prevention Hotline 1.800.237.8255 Military OneSource 1.800.342.9647 Help for active duty military and their dependents, including 12 free non-medical counseling appointments.

78. INFORMATION & REFERRAL (24/7) Defense Centers of Excellence (DCoE) Outreach Call Center 1.866.966.1020 Information and education on behavioral health and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Download pdf information sheet . Navy Safe Harbor 1.877.746.8563 US Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment 1.877.487.6299 Wounded Warrior Resource Call Center 1.800.342.9647 Help with questions about care of our wounded ill and injured.

79. INFORMATION & REFERRAL (BUSINESS HOURS) Air Force Wounded Warrior Program (AFW2) 1.800.581.9437 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM (CST), M-F Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) 1.800.870.9244 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (EST), M-F US Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) 1.800.237.1336 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM (EST), M-F

80. For additional information and resources for Military Members, Family Members & Providers please contact: Jan M. Brown SpiritWorks Foundation www.spiritworksfoundation.org [email_address] (757) 564-0001