The Growing Problem Of Addiction In The U.S. Military

Report: Military Hospitals Over Prescribing Painkillers, Leading Soldiers On A Path To Addition -- CBS News

(CBS News) A branch of the National Academy of Sciences reported today that doctors in military hospitals appear to be over prescribing pain pills and the result is often addiction.

Thirty-year-old Michael Long still has the bullet he took in his back during a tour in Iraq in 2005. He says removing it would have been too dangerous.

You can feel the bullet by just touching the bullet wound on Long's back. He said the injury is still "extremely painful."

In a military hospital, he got hooked on painkillers.

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More News On The Growing Problem Of Addiction In The U.S. Military

Study: Military drinking 'culture' now a 'crisis' -- AP
Study: Nearly Half of Military Binge Drinks; Painkiller Abuse Skyrockets -- US News and World Report
Study: Level of military substance abuse now a ‘public health crisis,’ Pentagon care outdated -- Washington Post/AP
Military Substance-Abuse Programs Critiqued by Panel -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Report: Military not adequately handling addiction in the ranks -- CBS
Military not doing enough to help soldiers with substance abuse, study finds -- Baltimore Sun
Military hospitals helping to addict our troops to pain medicines -- Examiner
The Downer Side of War -- Time