Alcohol Use and Alcohol-Related Problems Before and After Military Combat Deployment

This study’s focus was to determine whether combat exposure was associated with new-onset or continued alcohol misuse. Scores were compared on a self-report measure of alcohol misuse in a sample of Service members who deployed with combat exposure, deployed without combat exposure, or did not deploy. Combat exposure was related to increased risk of new-onset alcohol misuse, particularly in Reserve and National Guard personnel and in younger Soldiers.