Evidence Based Practice
Research On Drug Abuse And Stress
Disorder Among Veterans.
SOCW–6500 Social Work Field Education I
INTRODUCTION
 A social worker needs to understand the community he or she is operating in, in
order to help the community members solve their problems. A community is a
complex setting comprised of numerous sectors in social, cultural, and political
sectors. These sectors define and determine the activities that go on in a
community. In most times the community members suffer from various problems
which when not taken care of in time can lead to negative outcomes. In order for a
social worker to be able to know the problems that a particular community is
facing, he or she needs to carry out research in the community. The accuracy of
the research method used determines the accuracy of the research findings.
 The research methods used can be qualitative or quantitative depending on the
nature of information needing to be collected (Lampard, 2016). The qualitative
research methods are used when the information being gathered cannot be
measured easily in numerical terms for example feelings. These methods include
individual and group interviews, observations, holding large community meetings,
and interpretation of records among others. The quantitative research methods
are used when data to be collected is to be in the form of numbers. They tend to
answer the questions how much? How many? And how often? This method can
be used in cases where doing a comparison is needed. The quantitative method is
also less biased.
Is this page POPULATION RESEARCHED?
 In this case, the population researched was the veterans. The veterans were
chosen because they were found to not be as productive in the community as
expected. The veterans are the most vibrant and active people in the population
and are expected to be at the forefront of contributing to community
development. However, in this case, the veterans were lazy and unproductive
though most of them are learned.
 The research, therefore, was to find the root cause of their un-productivity. After
analysis, it was found out that most veterans were alcoholic. Some of the veterans
were not only alcoholic but were also found to be suffering from stress disorders.
The stress disorders were the main reason as to why most veterans had become
alcoholic.
 Most veterans who were found to be battling with drug addiction and stress
disorder had had traumatizing experiences. In some other cases, causes of the
stress had been caused by battle fatigue. Sexual abuse is also another reason why
veterans are affected by stress, especially in the case of female veterans. The
female veterans in the military sometimes are sexually assaulted during their time
of service in the military. As time goes by, the veteran becomes more used to
drugs as they see them as a way of relieving stress. This leads to addiction and
they develop withdrawal symptoms. However, when a veteran is noticed to be a
drug addict he or she is released from the military for good. Therefore, because it
has been a big problem facing most military forces, ways are sought on how to
help them overcome their addictive behavior.

Is this same as modalities uses ?
METHODS USED TO DO RESEARCH?
The methods used to do research in the veteran population were several.
The research was done in five stages.
 The first stage was known as the connecting stage. This stage is important
as it helps the researcher to get to know his or her population better
(Stoecker, 2005). In this stage, the social worker concentrated on making a
relationship and building trust which involved interacting with the
population in question. It involved the researcher going to camping sites
of the veterans and in the night clubs that they attend.
 This is in order for the researcher to do away with the misconception and
misunderstandings that can arise among the veterans about the research
being carried out. In the connection stage, the methods used are
qualitative. They can involve informal interviews, observation, reading of
community's journals of past findings of the veterans(Maxwell, Abrams,
Zungu & Mosavel, 2015). In addition, the researcher also engaged the
community members to a stakeholder. In this stage, the researcher needs
to be very careful with his or her approach to avoid scaring away the
veterans who can be very reluctant to give information.
Cont. METHODS USED TO DO RESEARCH?
 The second stage was the diagnosis stage. In this stage, the social worker
did an exploration of the population in order to identify their sole
problems and where possible find solution to them (Stoecker, 2005). This
stage involved the researcher using qualitative methods to collect data.
These methods involved preparing questionnaires, both closed and openended and giving them to the veterans to answer.
 This was a bit easier because the rapport had already been created. Other
research methods involved holding veteran meetings in camps (SPECIAL
ISSUE: Applied Research Methods in Social Work, 2013). This provided the
veterans with a platform to express themselves, their struggles and their
take on their various addictions. In this stage, the social workers used their
qualitative research findings to form the quantitative data. The data also
helped in coming up with the solution to reduce or end drug abuse and
stress disorder among the veterans.
Cont. METHODS USED TO DO RESEARCH?
 The third stage is implementing and prescribing stage. This stage involved
involving the veterans into suggesting what can be implemented to help
them be free from alcohol and stress.
 This involved advising the veterans who are stressed because of the
service workload to take a break ???. In cases the veteran was facing
depression, he or she was advised to see a counselor regularly to help
cope with the situation. In cases where the veteran had been stressed due
to traumatizing experiences, the veteran in question was advised to take a
break too. In addition, cases where the female veterans were stressed due
to sexual abuse, they were advised to seek for therapy.
Cont. METHODS USED TO DO RESEARCH
 The fourth stage is the evaluation stage. In the evaluation stage, assessing
the intervention impact on the veteran population was carried out. The
main reason for evaluation is to ensure that the implemented strategies of
helping the veterans cope with stress and drug abuse, are effective and
working (Stoecker, 2005). Data was collected to show how the veterans
had been coping with their situations.
 At this stage, quantitative research methods are applied. The number of
veterans who were improving was collected, the number of those who
had completely stopped drunkards and the ones who found it difficult to
change was also collected. According to the findings, the majority of the
veterans were improving slowly, only a few were finding it difficult to quit
alcohol, few were free from drug abuse.
Cont. METHODS USED TO DO RESEARCH
 The fifth stage is known as the dissemination stage. This stage
involved the degree to which the veterans had been influenced by
the study. The social worker interacted with the veterans and tried
to find out what difficulties they are facing in their transition stages
 In the case of difficulties, the social worker tried to provide a
solution where possible and also encouragement. In the process of
doing dissemination, the researcher used some questionnaires and
qualitative interviews in order to investigate the impact of their
implemented strategies. By doing this both qualitative and
quantitative data were collected in order to assess the veteran
population better in all sectors.
MODALITIES USED BY AGENCY
 In order to help the veterans deal with stress disorders and drug abuse,
the agency used several modern modalities. Some of which are commonly
used in therapy sessions. One of the modalities used was cognitive
behavioral therapy (Persons, 2016). This is an effective method and most
commonly used for treating addictions, anxiety, and depressions. In this
method, the veterans were made to the kind of thoughts and feelings that
had an influence on their behavior. This method helped the veterans to
realize that they cannot be in control of all aspects that happen around
them but they can change their interpretation and attitude towards the
things happening around them. By helping the veterans change their
thinking to positive thinking, they were able to change their unrealistic
thoughts that were making their feelings and moods dump. They started
to engage in more healthy patterns of thinking.
Cont. MODALITIES USED BY AGENCY
 Another modality used in the agency was the motivational interviewing
modality. This method involved approaching the veterans and talking
sense into them, especially the ones affected by drug abuse. According to
William Miller who is the founder of motivational interviewing modality,
the purpose of talking sense into the individual is to boost the individual’s
own motivation and his or her commitment to changing their attitudes
and behaviors according to the client’s values.
 In this method, the social workers went to meet the veterans in their
respective residences and engaged them in a friendly conversation. The
conversation was to help the individual veteran to move forward into
achieving his/her goal by building his/her readiness to change. This
method helped the veteran choose what they need instead of forcing or
imposing the changes to them, which can be disastrous.
Cont. MODALITIES USED BY AGENCY
 The other modality e used was the rational emotive behavioral therapy.
This modality focuses on emotional wellbeing and the individual’s
achievement of goals. It is almost similar to cognitive behavioral therapy
because just as cognitive behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavioral
therapy helps the individual to change their negative and destructive
thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts. In this method, the
therapist should qualify. He/she asks the individual some questions. For
example, why should everybody like you? Why should you have
everything? And many more. As the individual answers these questions,
he or she realizes that there is no need for them to be stressed over things
they have no control of. The rational emotive behavioral therapy helped
the veterans to accept the reality of life even if it is highly unpleasant. The
individual goes through three types of acceptance. The first is selfacceptance, the second is others acceptance and the third is life
acceptance.
Cont. MODALITIES USED BY AGENCY
 Dialectical behavioral therapy modality was also applied in the agency. The
core purpose of using this method was in order to help the veterans
suffering from stress disorder to regulate their emotions. It was also to
help them to healthily cope with stress and to improve their relations with
other people. Dialectical behavioral therapy modality is closely related to
cognitive behavioral therapy. In this method, the treatment sessions are
offered in terms of weeks where the veterans learned skills of acceptance,
tolerance, regulations of emotions and skills of mindfulness.
Evidence-based Practices Applied in the
Research
 Several evidence-based practices can be applied in the research process
on drug abuse and stress disorder among veterans. These methods are
used to evaluate the progress of an individual in terms of improvement.
This is because after implementing ways of coping with stress and drug
abuse, there are expectations of the victim showing signs of improvement.
Evidence-based practices can be implemented by using different
approaches. One of them is the method is multifaceted implementation
method. This method is based on facts researched and pieces of evidence
to make decisions. It involves implementing corrective measures to a
number of people at the same time. In this method, advanced training and
research are required. This is because the results of the research should
be applicable or made applicable by the critical evaluation of the findings
of research.
CONT. Evidence-based Practices
Applied in the Research
 Another method of implementing evidence-based practices is the use of
mono-facet implementation method that is also known as a single subject
method. This method is proved to be the best because it involves handling
the problems of one individual at a time. People have different factors that
affect them hence use of this method helps handle someone's problems
at an individual level. In order to apply this method, the researcher can
use interactive questions in order to get to know the victim better. This
helps in knowing what kind of corrective measures the victim needs to
avoid biases.
CONT. Evidence-based Practices
Applied in the Research
 In our case, both of these methods were applied in the research on drug
abuse and stress disorder among the veterans. In order to help them cope
with their situations and to adopt other healthy behavioral responses.
 This was based on the pieces of evidence collected during the research
process. Monitoring of their progress was not let out as it helped to know
whether the research and implementation process was of any help to the
veterans.
CAUSES OF STRESS DISORDERS AND DRUG
ABUSE
 The veteran population, which was the main area of research was found to
have been deeply affected by drugs and stress. The main causes of stress
disorders and drug abuse were because of various reasons. One of them
was as a result of peer pressure(Stanwood, 2015). Most veterans had
entered in use if drugs because they had seen their fellow veteran friends
do so.. In addition, some veterans also involve themselves with drugs so
that they can be accepted or fit in the social circle of their veteran friends
who are drug abusers.
 Other veterans enter into drug abuse in order to feel better. Most veterans
suffer from stress disorders and depression(Stanwood, 2015). They also
face social anxiety due to any happenings around them which they do not
fully understand. As a reason to do away with the depression and the
stress they are facing, they engage themselves in drug abuse. In most
cases, stress is usually the main drive to the veteran beginning to abuse
drugs. This leads to addiction level where it is almost impossible for them
to survive without drugs.
CONT. CAUSES OF STRESS DISORDERS AND DRUG
ABUSE
 Some other veterans decide to (USE or take)? drugs with believing that the
drugs will help them feel better. Today's world is very competitive and for
anyone to make it to the top he or she should perform well. The desire of
the veterans to perform better in battle fields is one of the reasons why
veterans abuse simulative drugs. This is because they believe that
stimulants will improve or boost their performance. ??
 In addition, other veterans engage in drug abuse in order to
experiment(Stanwood, 2015). They engage in drug abuse in order to have
knowledge of how it feels like to be drunk. This experiment behavior
sometimes leads to them being addicted and hence their lives end up
getting ruined. In addition, social media also contributes to a good
percentage of drug abuse among the veterans. This is because some songs
put praises on marijuana hence making it look cool to use.
CONT. CAUSES OF STRESS DISORDERS AND DRUG
ABUSE
 Lack of quality education among veterans is also one of the reasons as to
why they abuse drugs ??? Are you sure about this. Most veterans do not
know how drug abuse can have negative effects on their bodies and lives
at large. They have the mentality that taking drugs is cool and normal
because it is advertised on television channels ??? (this is not accurate
statement). The fact that their favorite musicians sing songs praising the
drugs, they end up feeling that there is nothing wrong with taking drugs to
‘feel good'. However, the drugs abused have negative consequences to the
veterans. According to our research, most veterans had developed health
complications due to drug abuse Their heart rates were found to be
abnormal their chances of experiencing heart attacks were high. This is
because the drugs taken through injection had led to collapsing of their
veins and also the valves of the heart had been affected.
CONT. CAUSES OF STRESS DISORDERS AND DRUG
ABUSE
 In addition, drug abuse had led to an increase in the rate of contracting of
sexually transmitted diseases( Stanwood, 2015). This is because of the
high rate of unprotected sex which was a cause of lack of proper
reasoning. The drugs are taken through injections also led to the veterans
contracting hepatitis diseases also HIV.
 Furthermore, drug abuse had resulted in veterans being financially broke
(Stanwood, 2015). Most drugs are expensive and when someone is
addicted spends a lot of money to satisfy the urge. The productivity of the
veterans was also affected because instead of focusing on practicing, most
time was spend looking and taking the drugs. Drug abuse also affects the
chemistry of the brain. After taking the drug, the brain tends to produce a
chemical by the name dopamine. This chemical makes one want more and
more of the drug. When the drug substance gets low in the body system,
the person tends to change their behavior, attitudes, and personality. This
leads to addiction.
CONT. CAUSES OF STRESS DISORDERS AND DRUG
ABUSE
 The veterans who were experiencing stress disorder also were affected
negatively. They had a tendency of oversleeping and were always
withdrawn from other people. Stress had also led to the experiencing of
severe headaches and stomach upset. It also affected the blood pressure
of the victims and resulted in chest pains
CONCLUSION
 In conclusion, we find that the veterans in one way or another they are
vulnerable to being victims of drug abuse and stress disorders. There are
various reasons that lead to them being trapped in the world of abusing
drugs, most of which are discussed above. These include peer pressure,
social media, stress, depression and many more. They, therefore, become
unproductive futile citizens in the country. In order to remove from the
abyss of drug abuse, we need to apply some techniques and methods to
help the veterans to correct their behaviors. This will help the veterans to
be more productive.
 DID YOU WRITE THIS FOR YOUTH AND JUST CHANGE THE YOUTH AND PUT
VETERANS THERE ? BECAUSE THIS DOESN’T MAKE CLEAR SENSE IM SORRY
REFERENCES
 Lampard, R. (2016). Practical social investigation. [Place of publication not
identified]: Routledge.
 Maxwell, M., Abrams, J., Zungu, T., & Mosavel, M. (2015). Conducting
community-engaged qualitative research in South Africa: memoirs of
intersectional identities abroad. Qualitative Research, 16(1), 95-110. doi:
10.1177/1468794114567495
 Persons, J. (2016). Science in Practice in Cognitive Behavior
Therapy. Cognitive And Behavioral Practice, 23(4), 454-458. doi:
10.1016/j.cbpra.2016.01.003
 SPECIAL ISSUE: Applied Research Methods in Social Work.
(2013). Australian Social Work, 66(3), pp.472-472.
REFERENCES
 Stanwood, G. (2015). Developmental causes and consequences of drug
abuse. Neurotoxicology And Teratology, 49, 111. doi:
10.1016/j.ntt.2015.04.041
 Stoecker, R. (2005). Research methods for community change. Thousand
Oaks: Sage Publications.