Alcohol abuse is pervasive in the military, where a culture of heavy drinking and the stress of deployment lead many soldiers down a troubled path. But many in the military avoid seeking help for alcohol abuse, fearing disciplinary action or other repercussions. “That’s a huge barrier,” said Denise Walker, director of the Innovative Programs Research Group at the University of Washington School of Social Work.
Hear Denise Walker discuss her research with reporter Patricia Murphy on KUOW.
Not surprisingly, there is little research on what type of treatment is most effective for active-duty military members. To shed new insight on that question and remove obstacles to seeking treatment, Walker and a team of researchers tested a telephone-based intervention geared specifically to military members struggling with alcohol abuse — with promising results.
The study, published online Oct. 13 in October in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, found that participants in the telephone intervention significantly reduced their drinking over time, had lower rates of alcohol dependence and were more likely to seek treatment.