Problems stemming from the misuse and abuse of alcohol and other drugs are by no means a new phenomenon, although the face of the issues has changed in recent years. National trends indicate substantial increases in the abuse of prescription medications. These increases are particularly prominent within the military, a population that also continues to experience long-standing issues with alcohol abuse. The problem of substance abuse within the military has come under new scrutiny in the context of the two concurrent wars in which the United States has been engaged during the past decade-in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) and Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn). Increasing rates of alcohol and other drug misuse adversely affect military readiness, family readiness, and safety, thereby posing a significant public health problem for the Department of Defense (DoD). To better understand this problem, DoD requested that the Institute of Medicine (IOM) assess the adequacy of current protocols in place across DoD and the different branches of the military pertaining to the prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs). Substance Use Disorders in the U.S. Armed Forces reviews the IOM's task of assessing access to SUD care for service members, members of the National Guard and Reserves, and military dependents, as well as the education and credentialing of SUD care providers, and offers specific recommendations to DoD on where and how improvements in these areas could be made.

Nearly 1.9 million U.S. troops have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq since October 2001. Many service members and veterans face serious challenges in readjusting to normal life after returning home. This initial book presents findings on the most critical challenges, and lays out the blueprint for the second phase of the study to determine how best to meet the needs of returning troops and their families.

You don't have to pursue another career in government or the corporate world once you leave the military. Indeed, if you understand your key military benefits as well as fine-tune your finances, you should be able to chart a new arid exciting post-military life! That's the central message running throughout this revealing book for servicemembers, veterans, and their families who want to become financially independent prior to committing themselves to full-time retirement and plan accordingly. Semi-retired at age 41 and enjoying life with his family on the beaches of Hawaii, the author outlines how military personnel can become happily semi-retired regardless of their age. Emphasizing the importance of family, lifestyle, and bridge careers, Doug Nordman goes a long Way in providing answers to one of today's most important questions for transitioning military - ôWhat do you want to do with the rest of your life?ö Dispelling numerous myths about military transition, finances, and retirement. He focuses on the two most important inflation-protected benefits military retirees and their families receive and can build upon for creating a financially independent and semi-retired lifestyle: military pension TRICARE health system He shows how to build a sound financial house based upon: military benefits investment portfolios part-time work savings bridge careers frugal living Filled with examples checklists, recommended websites, and a rich collection of appendices that deal with inflation, multiple income streams, and the value of a military, pension, this ground-breaking book is essential reading for anyone contemplating retiring from the military or jump-starting their post-military career in the direction of semi-retirement and/or full-time retirement Book jacket.