Binge Drinking and Drunk Driving Have Always Been a Concern for Veterans
December 12, 2018
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has taken a closer look at the instances of veterans engaging in binge drinking and its potential causes. The rate of binge drinking has climbed from roughly 14% in 2013 to just under 16% in recent years.
With this increase of alcohol abuse has come a rise in dunk driving incidents. The rate of veterans found to have engaged in driving while intoxicated has risen by nearly 60% since 2014.
Research continues to point to PTSD as a driving factor in alcohol abuse. Nearly 3 million service members have deployed in service of the American actions in the Middle East after 2001. Of those returning, roughly 11 to 20 percent suffer from PTSD, though some studies claim that number is as high as 30%.
