Mr. Chairman, ranking member and distinguished members of the committee, on behalf of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and our tens of thousands of members nationwide, I thank you for the opportunity to testify today regarding veterans’ substance abuse.

In particular, I would like to thank the committee for recognizing the issue of co-morbidity.  As the committee knows, among the hundreds of thousands of troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with a mental health injury, a small but significant percentage is turning to alcohol or drugs in an effort to self-medicate.  Veterans’ substance abuse problems, therefore, cannot and should not be viewed as distinct from mental health problems. 

According to the VA Special Committee on PTSD, at least 30 to 40% of Iraq veterans, or about half a million people, will face a serious psychological injury, including depression, anxiety, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. Data from the military’s own Mental Health Advisory Team shows that multiple tours and inadequate time at home between deployments increase rates of combat stress by 50%. 

We are already seeing the impact of these untreated mental health problems.  Between 2005 and 2006, the Army saw an almost three-fold increase in “alcohol-related incidents,” according to the DOD Task Force on Mental Health.  The VA has reported diagnosing more than 48,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with drug abuse.  That’s 16% of all Iraq and Afghanistan veteran patients at the VA.  These numbers are only the tip of the iceberg; many veterans do not turn to the VA for help coping with substance abuse, instead relying on private programs or avoiding treatment altogether.

Effective diagnosis and treatment of substance abuse is a key component of IAVA’s 2008 Legislative Agenda.  First and foremost, IAVA supports mandatory and confidential mental health screening by a mental health professional for all troops, both before and at least 90 days after a combat tour.    Moreover, the VA must be authorized to bolster their mental health workforce in hospitals, clinics, and Vet Centers with adequate psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers to meet the demands of returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.   

The shortage of mental health professionals in the VA is hampering the effectiveness of mental health and substance abuse treatment.  A VA Deputy Undersecretary has admitted that waiting lists render mental health and substance abuse care “virtually inaccessible” at some clinics.  In October 2006, almost one-third of Vet Centers admitted they needed more staff.  By April 2007, more than half of the 200-plus Vet Centers needed at least one more psychologist or therapist. As a result of the staffing shortage, veterans seeking mental health care get about one-third fewer visits with VA specialists now, compared to ten years ago. Veterans in rural communities are especially hard-hit. For instance, Montana ranks fourth in sending troops to war, but the state’s VA facilities provide the lowest frequency of mental health visits.

Effective treatment of veterans’ mental health and substance abuse issues requires the real commitment of the Congress to fund an expansion of the corps of VA mental health professionals.  But improving veterans’ mental health care is not simply a legislative fix.  That is why IAVA has partnered with the Ad Council, the nonprofit organization responsible for some of America’s most effective and memorable public service campaigns, including “A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste,” “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires,” and “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.”  This summer, the Ad Council and IAVA will launch a multi-year campaign to de-stigmatize mental health care for service members and their families.  The broadcast, print, web and outdoor ads will encourage those who need it to seek mental health care and inform all Americans that seeking help is a sign of strength rather than weakness.  We are very excited to partner with Ad Council to help get troops, veterans, and their families the care they need and deserve.

I thank you for providing me the opportunity to testify before you this afternoon.  I would like to point out that my testimony today does not reflect the views of the United States Marine Corps.  I am here testifying today in my civilian capacity as the Director of Government Affairs for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.  All the data and IAVA recommendations I have cited are available in our Mental Health report and our Legislative Agenda.  It would be my pleasure to answer any questions you may have for me at this time.

Respectfully submitted.