Abstract
Materials and methods Using longitudinal data from The Substance Use and Psychological Injury Combat Study, we identify predictors of testing positive for one or more drugs post-deployment among 306,345 enlisted Army active-duty (AD) members returning from Iraq or Afghanistan in FY2008–2011. Subsample analyses examine findings from those members who completed a follow-up questionnaire approximately 6 months after the deployment (n = 262846). Urinalysis tests for metabolites of cocaine, heroin, THC, and/or amphetamines are routinely and randomly tested by the military’s drug test program. These data were examined to estimate the percent of the sample with any positive drug test 6 months and up to 3 years post-deployment (followup). Demographic and deployment characteristics and self-report of post-deployment problems were examined as potential predictors of a positive drug test.
Highlights
The association of deployment and behavioral health problems with positive drug tests among Army members returning from Iraq or Afghanistan
Problems associated with alcohol and drug use are a critical area for intervention development within the Department of Defense (DoD)
Materials and methods Using longitudinal data from The Substance Use and Psychological Injury Combat Study, we identify predictors of testing positive for one or more drugs post-deployment among 306,345 enlisted Army active-duty (AD) members returning from Iraq or Afghanistan in FY2008–2011
Summary
Background Problems associated with alcohol and drug use are a critical area for intervention development within the Department of Defense (DoD). This study is the first to study drug use problems with objective drug test data among military members returning from deployment. Materials and methods Using longitudinal data from The Substance Use and Psychological Injury Combat Study, we identify predictors of testing positive for one or more drugs post-deployment among 306,345 enlisted Army active-duty (AD) members returning from Iraq or Afghanistan in FY2008–2011.
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