Online Program

283865
Differences in substance use and mental health symptoms among female and male active duty personnel


Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 12:50 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.

William Higgins, Ph.D, Public Health and Survey Research Division, ICF International, Fairfax, VA
Jacqueline Pflieger, Ph.D., Public Health and Survey Research Division, ICF International, Fairfax, VA
Frances Barlas, Ph.D., Public Health and Survey Research Division, ICF International, Fairfax, VA
Diana Jeffery, Ph.D., Defense Health Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, TRICARE Management Activity, Falls Church, VA
Mark Mattiko, M.Ed., United States Coast Guard, Washington, DC
Benedict Diniega, M.D., Clinical & Program Policy (C&PP), Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Falls Church, VA
Maureen Forsythe, TRICARE Management Activity (DHCAPE), Falls Church, VA
Purpose: This study examines female and male service members' alcohol use, tobacco use, and prescription drug misuse, and co-occurrence with symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS), depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation/attempts. Methods: We utilize data from the 2011 Health Related Behaviors (HRB) Survey of Active Duty Military Personnel, the Department of Defense and Coast Guard's largest anonymous, representative survey administered for the first time via the internet. It was completed by approximately 40,000 respondents (85% male, 15% female) on indicators of binge drinking, heavy cigarette smoking, prescription drug misuse, and mental health symptoms experienced within the past year. Results: Females reported higher symptoms of PTS (6% vs. 5%), depression (12% vs. 9%), anxiety (23% vs. 16%), and suicide ideation/attempts (5% vs. 4%) than males. However, males reported higher rates of binge drinking (35% vs. 25%) and heavy smoking (4% vs. 2%); prescription drug misuse rates were identical across gender (1%). Logistic regressions revealed that for males only, heavy smoking increased odds of suicide ideation/attempts (OR=1.8, CI=1.2-2.5). Overall, prescription drug misuse had the strongest relationship to mental health symptoms, with males who misused prescription drugs 6 times more likely than non-misusers to report suicide ideation/attempts and females who misused prescription drugs 5 times more likely than non-misusers to report PTS symptoms. Conclusion: For both females and males, prescription drug misuse exhibited a strong relationship to suicide ideation/attempts and PTS symptoms, reinforcing a public health approach that tailors prevention and treatment programs to the co-morbidity of substance abuse and mental health symptoms.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Identify gender differences in rates of substance use and related mental health symptoms among active duty military personnel.

Keyword(s): Mental Health, Substance Abuse

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have experience in substance abuse and psychological health research with military populations and was a key member of the project team supporting the 2011 Health Related Behaviors Survey of Active Duty Military Personnel. I hold a Ph.D. in Human Ecology from the University of Tennessee and a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of South Carolina.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.