My brother joined the Marines when he turned 18 years old. He never got good grades in high school and seemed to always be in trouble. I think he felt like it was a way to start over and meet new people that didn’t know anything about him. I remember when he was in high school he went to an occasional party, but his drinking was never that bad. I noticed that when he came home all he does is drink. He starts drinking beer at 10am when he wakes up and doesn’t stop until it’s time for bed. My whole family noticed the change, he used to be a caring man who loved and never talked about to people and now he walks around like he hates the world. I know that people in the military experience so much when they are fighting in a war and he probably is experiencing PTSD, I just don’t know what happened to my old brother. I knew that when he would come back he would be different, but I thought his maturity level would change, not have an addiction to alcohol. My family wants to get him help, but we all feel kind of helpless because we don’t if he is just coping with the pain of being there or has a serious problem.

I have a friend who just returned from the marines and all he does is drink. A lot of soldiers and marines after war just start drinking so much. I dont know why :-/ I mean he seems happy and is always cheerful and even his family knows he is happy especially to be back home but yet he just drinks sooo much!

My dad used to drink before he went to the Marines.  But during the time he was in the Marines, his drinking got worse and he even started using drugs.  He served for 4 years and after he got out, he married my mom and had two kids.  He never stopped drinking and he says there's a lot of things he doesn't want to speak about regarding his service in the Marines.  Two years is managable, but four years is a very long time for some soldiers and it begins to change them. 

I have a friend who also returned from the marines and he drinks SO much! Why is it that marines drink more than army?

jdizzle said: I have a friend who also returned from the marines and he drinks SO much! Why is it that marines drink more than army?

I don't think that the Marines drink any more or any less than the Army; maybe it seems that way because the Marines tend to be more legendary for their hell-raising.  Maybe if someone showed us statistic breakdowns of drinking habits by each branch of the military we'd be able to figure this one out.

My friend returned about a month ago and before he left he was a pretty heavy drinker and even got a DUI, but like 2 months before he left he got his life right with God and decided he wouldn't return to that lifestyle. Well now he's back and drinking. It's really sad to watch. He hasn't been home long and already got himself in so much trouble. What can I do to help him? Our other friend sees him everyday and tries to support him and encourage him, but it doesn't seem to help.. :(

Ambivalence, and survivor guilt are keys to help our wounded warriors as they return home. I have just completed a new treatment workbook and video called The unfortunate Hero:Treating Addicted Military Trauma Survivors. I have a video of a PTSD Alcoholic Solider "Brandon" sharing his story as a Military Trauma Survivor. During the taping I taught Brandon successful ways for managing his rage and flashbacks related to his tour as a medic in Iraq. These critical interventions are demonstrated on tape and in the soon to be published workbook. The suicide rate will be reduced, as we help our soldiers and the families return to a life that is different than the one they left behind. I am a NAADAC Training Academy member and train for Veterans Administration Programs nationally and internationally on Military related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and addiction. My web site is www.drkatieevans.com please look and see if I can be of service to any individual group or organization. You can email me with any personal or professional questions. I will respond!
Katie Evans PhD, CADC III, NCACII
Email: drkatieevans@verizon.net.
I am a Consultant, Trainer Dual Diagnosis Expert Clinician and Author on workbooks for survivors who are suffering from relapse on their journey of recovery.
May all of you find your own path to sobriety, spirituality and serenity.