From the stresses of repeated deployments to the difficulties of re-entry into civilian life, we are just beginning to understand how protracted conflicts, such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan, are affecting service members. Issues such as risky health behaviors and chemical dependence raise productivity concerns as they do with all organizations, but they also have a profound impact on the safety and readiness of troops--and by extension, the military as a whole--in life-or-death situations. Understanding Military Workforce Productivity cuts through the myths and misconceptions about the health and resilience of today's active-duty armed forces. This first-of-its-kind volume presents up-to-date findings across service branches in core health areas including illness and injury, alcohol and drug abuse, tobacco use, obesity, and mental health. The short- and long-term implications discussed relate to the quality of the lives of service members and their families, the quality and preparedness of the military as a workforce, and prevention and intervention efforts. The book: Presents data from ten large-scale health behavior surveys sponsored by the Department of Defense. Offers background context for understanding health and behavioral health and productivity among service members. Introduces a health and behavioral health model of productivity loss in the armed forces. Compares key indicators of substance abuse, health, and mental health in military and civilian populations. Reviews approaches for improving military productivity. Identifies areas for further study. Understanding Military Workforce Productivity offers a rare close-up of health issues in the services, making it an invaluable source of information for practitioners and researchers in mental health, substance abuse, health behaviors, and military behavioral health.

From the stresses of repeated deployments to the difficulties of re-entry into civilian life, we are just beginning to understand how protracted conflicts, such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan, are affecting service members. Issues such as risky health behaviors and chemical dependence raise productivity concerns as they do with all organizations, but they also have a profound impact on the safety and readiness of troops--and by extension, the military as a whole--in life-or-death situations. Understanding Military Workforce Productivity cuts through the myths and misconceptions about the health and resilience of today's active-duty armed forces. This first-of-its-kind volume presents up-to-date findings across service branches in core health areas including illness and injury, alcohol and drug abuse, tobacco use, obesity, and mental health. The short- and long-term implications discussed relate to the quality of the lives of service members and their families, the quality and preparedness of the military as a workforce, and prevention and intervention efforts. The book: Presents data from ten large-scale health behavior surveys sponsored by the Department of Defense. Offers background context for understanding health and behavioral health and productivity among service members. Introduces a health and behavioral health model of productivity loss in the armed forces. Compares key indicators of substance abuse, health, and mental health in military and civilian populations. Reviews approaches for improving military productivity. Identifies areas for further study. Understanding Military Workforce Productivity offers a rare close-up of health issues in the services, making it an invaluable source of information for practitioners and researchers in mental health, substance abuse, health behaviors, and military behavioral health.

Recently, the Research Triangle Institute completed a five-year study sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse called The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area Drug Study (DC*MADS). The study attempted to look at the nature and extent of drug abuse among diverse populations living in a single metropolitan area, focusing particularly on underrepresented populations such as the homeless, the institutionalized, and juvenile offenders along with populations that have been studied in more depth, such as persons living in households. The goal was to not only establish prevalence, correlates, and consequences of drug abuse, but to establish a research model for conducting other such studies. Drug Use in Metropolitan America describes, relates, and integrates findings from the DC*MADS study. More than that, though, this book places the findings in the larger context of our national drug abuse problem. Therefore, while there is some reporting of findings, there is more emphasis on examining the policy, research, and program implications that flow from the studies. This book will be of interest to researchers, practitioners, and policy makers in a number of areas, as well as to academics in Sociology courses dealing with drugs, deviance, social problems, and research methodology. It should also appeal to those concerned with Psychology and Medicine/Allied Health.

Recently, the Research Triangle Institute completed a five-year study sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse called The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area Drug Study (DC*MADS). The study attempted to look at the nature and extent of drug abuse among diverse populations living in a single metropolitan area, focusing particularly on underrepresented populations such as the homeless, the institutionalized, and juvenile offenders along with populations that have been studied in more depth, such as persons living in households. The goal was to not only establish prevalence, correlates, and consequences of drug abuse, but to establish a research model for conducting other such studies. Drug Use in Metropolitan America describes, relates, and integrates findings from the DC*MADS study. More than that, though, this book places the findings in the larger context of our national drug abuse problem. Therefore, while there is some reporting of findings, there is more emphasis on examining the policy, research, and program implications that flow from the studies. This book will be of interest to researchers, practitioners, and policy makers in a number of areas, as well as to academics in Sociology courses dealing with drugs, deviance, social problems, and research methodology. It should also appeal to those concerned with Psychology and Medicine/Allied Health.