Veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse face an increased risk of death, a new study suggests. The study included 272,509 veterans who were diagnosed with PTSD. Those who had a substance use disorder were more likely to die during the study follow-up period.

For all age groups, veterans with PTSD and substance use disorder were more likely to die from injuries than those with PTSD alone. For veterans under age 45, those with PTSD and substance use disorder were more likely than older veterans to die from non-injury-related causes, PsychCentral.com reports.

Injury related deaths included suicides, homicides and accidents. Non-injury related deaths included cancer, heart disease and other health problems.

The study of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan is the first to evaluate the combined impact of drug or alcohol use disorders in combination with PTSD, according to the University of Michigan researchers.

“Attention needs to be paid to veteran patients with PTSD, with an emphasis on identifying those who might also have a problem with drug or alcohol use,” lead author Kipling Bohnert said in a news release. “This study highlights the potential importance of effective treatment for both conditions in helping veterans after they’ve returned from conflict.”

The results appear in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Harbor Hall is presently in the process of renovating its residential facilities. We will be involved in construction for the next few months as we update our facilities with a clean, modern, dorm style look. We would like to have our residents thought of as students who are learning to live a drug and alcohol free life. This update will include renovating existing bathrooms to have tiled showers and floors. We will also be redoing all of the resident bedrooms to include new beds, armoires, nightstands, over-the-bed lighting for private reading, new blinds and a designer paint scheme planned by our interior decorator. We will also be tiling the kitchen pantry and putting in new flooring in the dining facility. This is Phase One out of a two phase renovation, which will also include a future update of our sober living facilities. Our improvements there will include the replacement of the bathrooms and kitchen at the oldest facility along with new beds, dressers, nightstands and closets. The sober living facilities are for graduates of our residential program.

The entire staff is committed to insuring that our clients are treated with dignity and respect. If it was not for the clients coming to our facility we would not exist so, they are paramount and who we are here for. This attitude is shared by the entire treatment staff and the Harbor Hall Inc. and Foundation Boards. Terry Newton, the Executive Director of Harbor Hall for the past 22 years, has gone through several construction processes while in his current position. According to Mr. Newton; “We are always looking at new ways in which we can improve on the services and amenities for the clients that we serve. I am excited to be a part of this process and we have an amazing staff that make the place operate on a daily basis as well as a deeply committed Board of Directors of Harbor Hall, Inc. and The Harbor Hall Foundation. We would also like to thank the many donors who have made these renovations and updates possible.

Harbor Hall has begun to take in more private pay clients including medical and other professionals and young adults who are coming from around Michigan and other states because of our affordable treatment options. Harbor Hall has received clients from New York, Florida, Colorado, Arizona and Illinois. Accepting self-pay clients also insures that we will be able to provide services to persons who cannot afford to pay for treatment services.

Please make sure you visit our Website and blog for future updates. These are:
www.harborhall.com
www.harborhall.com/blog/

Also, Please see our Facebook Page, where we will be adding pictures as we go along in the process https://www.facebook.com/HarborHall

Click Here to Watch the Video This is a good video to watch for insights about Prescription Drug Abuse; one of the largest problems facing our nation today.

Click Here to Watch the Video This video is Part 2 of the GenerationRX: Prescription Drug Series

Click Here to Listen to The Hurt
This song is sung by Johnny Cash and could describe addiction to opiates. He talks about the needle tearing the hole; the old familiar sting, and describes the destruction that is caused by addiction. What a haunting melody.

Click Here to Watch The Video

This video does a nice job talking about the horrors of so called Bath Salts. If you have adolescents, please watch out for this stuff.