Study: Younger veterans show high levels of mental health issues, substance abuse

PHOENIX - A new survey shows young Arizona veterans abusing drugs and alcohol much more than veterans from other wars.

The survey comes from St. Luke's Health Initiative, an organization with a mission of improving health in Arizona.

The survey covers a wide range of health issues across the state, but the section on Arizona veterans turned some heads.

It shows high levels of mental health issues and substance abuse. Drug and alcohol abuse is said to be four times more common in Arizona veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan than the general public and veterans from other wars.

“When I got home I self-medicated with drugs and alcohol," said veteran Derrick Stephenson.

He served in both Iraq and Afghanistan and says he worked long hours, got little sleep and saw a lot of death, including his friends.

But dealing with his feelings and emotions wasn’t something he wasn’t allowed to do.

“In the military they don’t promote you dealing with those things, you have to do it when you get back,” Derrick said.

He added when he started failing his children and wife he knew he needed help.

He went to the Veterans Administration in Phoenix and started with treatment, like some 15,000 others veterans every year.

“Many of them come back, they are young and all they know is military life, plus the economy is bad and there are a lot of factors,” said Carlos Carrera who helps run the treatment programs at the VA. He says treatments works but many vets can’t or won’t seek treatment.

Derrick says his few years in treatment was hard at first but has helped him rebound to become the husband and father he wants to be.

“Don’t run from it,” he said to other veterans who may hear his story. “Life gets better, it doesn’t have to be bad.”