Resources from SAMHSA for Returning Veterans and Their Families

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is making the reintegration needs of returning veterans a top priority in agency efforts to promote mental health and to prevent and treat substance abuse by offering a Web site dedicated to providing resources for returning veterans and their families.

Combined statistics from the 2004-06 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) have documented that more than 20 percent of veterans aged 18-25 suffered serious psychological distress in the preceding year, with females being more vulnerable than males. According to the NSDUH report, Serious Psychological Distress and Substance Use Disorder among Veterans, one-quarter of veterans aged 25 and under had suffered from substance use disorders in the preceding year. These disorders co-occurred in more than 8 percent of the veterans aged 25 and under.

While emphasizing that “the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has the lead on providing services to veterans, and the Department of Defense (DoD) has military medical facilities all around the country,” SAMHSA Administrator Terry L. Cline, Ph.D., sees an important role for SAMHSA in helping returning veterans and their families.

Dr. Cline recently signed a decision memorandum establishing returning veterans and their families as one of SAMHSA’s priority populations. As a result, this population will be included in all relevant announcements of grant availability, and applicants for SAMHSA grants will be strongly encouraged to address veterans’ issues.

For more information, read the press release, read the statistics on veterans’ mental health, and visit the Veteran Resources Web site.