Devonish, J. A., Homish, D. L., Vest, B. M., Daws, R. C., Hoopsick, R. A., & Homish, G. G. (2017). The impact of military service and traumatic brain injury on the substance use norms of Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers and their spouses. Addictive Behaviors, 72, 51-56. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.03.012

Service members with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) may be more likely to engage in problematic substance use. Greater approval of use from partners may lead to more engagement in poor substance use behavior. This study explored how TBI and military status relate to Soldiers' substance use and their partners' degree of approval in using substances. Overall, findings revealed that partners were more accepting of substance use when the Soldier had symptoms of TBI and were no longer in the military.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.03.012

Mental health
Physical health
Substance use
Trauma

Army
Multiple branches

Reserve
Guard

Guard/Reserve member
Spouse of service member or veteran
Military families

Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Empirical Study
Followup Study
Longitudinal Study
Quantitative Study

Devonish, J. A., Homish, D. L., Vest, B. M., Daws, R. C., Hoopsick, R. A., Homish, G. G.

Introduction Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and substance use are highly prevalent conditions among military populations. There is a significant body of evidence that suggests greater approval of substance use (i.e., norms) is related to increased substance use. The objective of this work is to understand the impact of TBI and military service on substance use norms of soldiers and their partners. Data are from the baseline assessment of Operation: SAFETY, an ongoing, longitudinal study of US Army Reserve/National Guard (USAR/NG) soldiers and their partners. Methods Multiple regression models examined associations between alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug use, and non-medical use of prescription drug (NMUPD) norms within and across partners based on current military status (CMS) and TBI. Results Male USAR/NG soldiers disapproved of NMUPD, illicit drug use and tobacco use. There was no relation between military status and alcohol use. Among females, there was no relation between CMS and norms. The NMUPD norms of wives were more likely to be approving if their husbands reported TBI symptoms and had separated from the military. Husbands of soldiers who separated from the military with TBI had greater approval of the use of tobacco, NMUPD, and illicit drugs. Conclusion Overall, there is evidence to suggest that, while generally disapproving of substance use, soldiers and partners become more accepting of use if they also experience TBI and separate from the military. Future research should examine the longitudinal influence of TBI on substance use norms and subsequent changes in substance use over time.

Elsevier Science

Article
REACH Publication

Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, JAD
Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, DLH
Department of Family Medicine, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, BMV
Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, RCD
Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, RAH
Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, GGH