American Society of Addiction Medicine
American Society of Addiction Medicine
Lead: Loneliness Among US Veterans With Problematic Substance Use: Results From the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study
Lead: Loneliness Among US Veterans With Problematic Substance Use: Results From the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study
Lead: Loneliness Among US Veterans With Problematic Substance Use: Results From the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study
Tuesday 20th May 2025
Explore loneliness among veterans with substance issues and learn about legal cannabis access impacts in this enlightening episode.
8 minutes
Informative
Educational
Supportive
Compassionate
Eye-opening
About this podcast
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American Society of Addiction Medicine
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Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
Navigating Alcohol Dependency
Family Recovery from Addiction
Nutritional Pathways to Recovery
Navigating Intimate Relationships
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Get the buttons here!Unpacking Loneliness and Substance Use Among Veterans
Episode Overview
- Nearly half of veterans with problematic substance use experience loneliness.
- Depression and PTSD symptoms strongly impact loneliness.
- Legal cannabis access may reduce misuse but not mental health symptoms.
- Psilocybin shows promise for treating alcohol and tobacco use disorders.
- Social connections and purpose can alleviate loneliness in veterans.
Nearly half of veterans with problematic substance use experience clinically significant loneliness.
Loneliness is a tough nut to crack, especially for US veterans grappling with problematic substance use. This episode of 'This Week in Addiction Medicine' tackles this issue head-on, exploring findings from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. It turns out that nearly half of these veterans experience clinically significant loneliness. So, what's causing this isolation?
Factors like being unmarried, psychological distress such as depression and PTSD, a history of suicide attempts, and smaller social networks all play a role. The study suggests that enhancing social connections and fostering a sense of purpose might be the key to alleviating loneliness in this vulnerable group. But wait, there's more! The episode also dives into the effects of legal versus illegal cannabis access on mental health.
A study conducted in Switzerland reveals that legal access might slightly reduce cannabis misuse, although mental health symptoms remain unchanged. The discussion doesn't stop there. You'll hear about stress dynamics among students with addicted relatives and the promising yet complex role of psilocybin in treating substance use disorders. Whether you're interested in the nitty-gritty of addiction policy changes or the neuroscience behind substance use, this episode has you covered.
With a blend of research findings and expert commentary, it offers a wealth of information that could help shape future strategies in addiction medicine. So, if you're curious about how loneliness affects veterans or want to understand the broader landscape of addiction medicine, this episode is worth your time. Tune in for insights that might just change your perspective.