If the military has access to all your medical records, they might know if you went to rehab in the past. But the real question many want to know is how this could impact their career in the military. The short answer is that laws protect you from discrimination for past substance abuse and rehab. However, current substance abuse during active duty could be an issue.
If you are currently struggling with substance abuse in the military, it is best to get help before the issue spirals out of control. Being honest and upfront—while challenging—is ultimately the best approach.
Tampa Bay Recovery Center is here to help veterans and active-duty military personnel struggling with drug or alcohol abuse. We also offer dual diagnosis treatment to address mental health disorders, like PTSD and trauma, which often accompany substance abuse among veterans and active-duty personnel.
Will the Military Know If I Went to a Rehab Center?
Attending drug and alcohol rehab will go on your health records, but the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects your records. HIPAA’s Privacy Rule ensures that protected health information (PHI) “is properly protected while allowing the flow of health information needed to provide and promote high-quality healthcare, and to protect the public’s health and well-being.”
In short, HIPAA gives the person control over who gets to see their PHI—and who doesn’t. While there are some exceptions to disclosing information without your permission, drug and alcohol rehab doesn’t fall under these exceptions. So, while medical staff in the military will have access to your health records, they cannot disclose this information to your commanding officer, recruiter, or other staff without your permission.
Additionally, under HIPAA, you can deny the military access to medical records from drug and alcohol rehab centers. But a past substance use disorder will likely be on your medical record from other practitioners, like a family doctor, for example. Therefore, even if the rehab center doesn’t disclose your record of attendance, substance abuse could be elsewhere on your medical record.
Lastly, if substance abuse leads to criminal behavior, like a DUI or disorderly conduct arrest, the military could learn about it from these records. Unlike health records, you don’t have privacy rights to criminal records. So, if you were arrested for crimes related to substance abuse, and participated in a rehab program as part of your sentencing, it’s possible for the military to learn this.
Am I Protected From Discrimination for Substance Abuse?
As stated above, the military will likely find out if you went to a rehab center in the past. They will need access to your medical records to ensure that you are suitable for service. However, under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), “An employer may not discriminate against a person who has a history of drug addiction but who is not currently using drugs and who has been rehabilitated.”
In other words, if you are rehabilitated and not currently using drugs or alcohol, the ADA protects you from discrimination. But, if you are currently abusing substances or relapsed while serving, this could negatively impact your career—especially if you don’t take steps to get better.
Once again, honesty is the best policy and if you are currently abusing substances, it is best to be open and honest about needing help.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health in the Military
Military life involves a lot of stress, pressure, and trauma that the general population is less likely to experience. As a result, some active duty personnel abuse substances to cope. In addition, military veterans—especially those exposed to combat—are at an increased risk of developing mental health and substance use disorders.
According to data collected by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the following statistics highlight substance abuse and mental health issues in the military:
- In a 2015 survey, only 8.6% of active-duty personnel used illicit drugs, compared to 22.3% of civilians
- The same survey found that heavy drinking was lower among military personnel (5.4%) than among the general population (6.7%)
- The survey, however, found that 30% of military personnel engaged in binge drinking compared to 24.7% of the general population
- More than 1 in 3 service personnel met the criteria for dangerous drinking and possible alcohol use disorder (AUD)
- 9% of veterans experience severe pain, compared to 6.4% of non-veterans, increasing the risk of overdosing on opioid pain relievers
Thus, while illicit drug use is lower among active-duty military staff, veterans are often at a higher risk of developing substance use disorders than the general population. This is because mental health disorders in the military are prevalent, especially among combat veterans. Mental health disorders often co-occur with substance abuse as a means of self-medicating.
Mental health disorders among military personnel include the following statistics collected by NIDA:
- 37-50% of Afghanistan and Iraq War veterans are diagnosed with a mental disorder
- 63% of Afghanistan and Iraq War veterans with a substance use disorder also had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- About 30% of Army suicides since 2003 involved alcohol or drug use
Treatment Options for Military Personnel and Veterans
The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides substance use treatment for veterans. However, private treatment centers can help both active military personnel and veterans. Our rehab center in Tampa helps with both substance abuse and the underlying causes.
Treatment options for military personnel and veterans include:
- Drug and Alcohol Detox
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Trauma and PTSD Treatment
- Dual-Diagnosis Treatment
- Outpatient Treatment Programs
- Sober Living Homes
- Holistic Approaches
Begin Rehab for US Military Staff and Veterans
If you or a loved one are or have served in the military and need rehab, we can help. Our rehab center can help address some of the common underlying causes of addiction in military personnel. We offer a safe and secure environment for you to begin your recovery from addiction.
Contact Tampa Bay Recovery Center today to begin your recovery journey.
