Spirituality, Substance Use, and the Military

Military members and veterans make up a small portion of the U.S. population, yet counselors are likely to encounter military members and veteran clients in both civilian and military-operated treatment settings. Like their civilian counterparts, military members and veterans may struggle with substance use disorder before, during, or after their service. Previous research has demonstrated that utilizing spiritual beliefs or practices can be a positive coping strategy for individuals in substance use recovery. This manuscript examines the use of spirituality as a coping strategy specifically for military members and veterans recovering from substance use disorders. Current literature is reviewed, in addition to case examples.