title: Narcotics anonymous: a comparison of military veterans and non-veterans.
abstract: Substance use disorder, which is often comorbid with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is a problem confronted by many veterans. To determine the potential utility of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) for veterans, 508 NA attendees were studied. Veterans (n = 172) were more likely to have been referred by a professional than were non-veterans (77% vs. 27%, respectively); 70% had been hospitalized for alcohol or drug problems, and 51% had been treated for non-substance psychological problems. The 70% of veterans who reported at least 1 of 3 service-related stressful experiences were more likely to report PTSD-related symptoms. NA can serve as a recovery resource for certain veterans with substance use disorders, with or without PTSD.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and the Center for Spirituality and Healthcare, Department of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine , New York , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galanter
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dermatis
authors.forename: Cristal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sampson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012067:Religion; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D029181:Spirituality; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Addiction; narcotics anonymous; post-traumatic stress disorder; veterans