DCMP on 
Dana Porter on 
An article appeared in yesterday’s USA Today stating that soldiers substance abuse needs are going unmet.
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — The number of soldiers seeking help for substance abuse has climbed 25% in the past five years, but the Army’s counseling program has remained significantly understaffed and struggling to meet the demand, according to Army records.
If these men and women do not get treatment, they are going to take these problems home with them. Unfortunately, they will find the same issues here. Governor Strickland slashed the budget for the Ohio Department of Drug and Alcohol Services (ODADAS). In addition, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman is poised to cut the alcohol and drug program at Columbus Public Health by a third. In Columbus, most programs have long waiting lists just to get an assessment to see what treatment is needed. Other programs have scaled back services as well.
It is a shame the way we treat our soldiers. Not only will soldiers have substance abuse problems many will have mental health disorders as well. As someone who works in the field I can tell you we are not ready. We are not adequately taking care of the population we have now. If politicians do not act soon and restore and even enhance funding for substance abuse and mental health treatment programs, we are going to have more than a financial crisis on our hands.
[...] of Ohio is literally killing people with cut backs in treatment programs. As I have posted about here, soldiers needs for treatment are going unmet. What happens when they are discharged and come back [...]