Implications for Social Work

Studies regarding group therapy in veterans with substance abuse complications, the key benefits for those who participated was a longer-term effect. Group therapy enhanced the effect of other treatment modalities. However, the type of group therapy was found to be less important than the fact that the veteran received group therapy. For the social worker who works with the veteran population, it is important to understand the benefits of group therapy for the client.

Understanding that substance abuse in the veteran population is different from substance abuse in other populations, such as teenagers, is the key to providing them with the best line of defense. Group therapy can help the veteran learn positive coping mechanisms so that they do not have to turn to negative coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse. Unless the veteran can replace negative coping mechanisms with positive ones, they will be likely to return to coping mechanisms that are destructive. This is the key important of group therapy for the veteran.

Veterans often have difficulty discussing uncomfortable subjects and may be reluctant to enter into a group therapy setting. The social worker needs to try to convince the veteran of the benefits of therapy and to provide a positive supportive environment in order to get the veteran to attend. Those veterans who attend group therapy have a greater success rate due to the positive social interaction of the group.

From a social work perspective, veterans with substance abuse problems are often different from others in the general population with substance abuse problems. With veterans, their combat experiences are likely to be linked to the substance abuse. The underlying condition must be treated before the substance abuse will go away. Knowing that they are not alone is an important part of their ability to accept and validate their own experiences.

Veterans may have had negative experiences expressing their feelings among the general population, but when among others with similar problems, they may find it easier to open up. This is the...

The social worker must be sensitive to the unique experiences of the combat veteran population. They must attempt to treat the whole person, rather than singling out one aspect of a complex set of disorders. The complexity of symptoms in veterans must be treated at the source. The veteran must learn to cope with their memories and experiences on the combat field. As studies indicate, group therapy is an excellent outlet for these feelings.
The social worker who treats the veteran population must serve as a facilitator to get the veteran into a supportive atmosphere where they can learn to cope with their feelings in a positive manner. Providing the veteran with contacts and phone numbers is not always enough, the social worker must go farther in getting the veteran to attend group therapy. They must act as an advocate and support mechanism. The social worker who understands the uniqueness of the veteran population is an important asset in the success of therapy programs to help them learn to cope with trauma.