Does Alcohol Misuse Differ by Gender & Veteran Status in Adults Age 25+?

Introduction: Alcohol misuse has been reported as one of the most common and persistent mental health problems in veterans; however, female veterans may be at less risk than male veterans. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether alcohol misuse differs by gender and veteran status in a representative sample of adults 25 years and older. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis used 2013 BRFSS data for adults 25 and older from the states of California, Florida, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. The relationship among gender, veteran status, and alcohol misuse (any drinking, binge drinking, and heavy drinking) was assessed using multiple logistic regression while controlling for demographic and psychosocial variables. Results: About 54-58% of female and male veterans reported any drinking, 10-12% reported binge drinking, and 6-7% reported heavy drinking. In adjusted analyses, gender and veteran status were significantly related to alcohol misuse, but differently by type of drinking. Conclusions: This study found that gender and veteran status are related to alcohol misuse, and female veterans may be at similar risk for heavy drinking as male veterans. Providers should continue to monitor male and femala veterans for alcohol misuse.