Aggressive behaviors and binge drinking among soldiers who recently returned from Afghanistan (OEF)

Aggressive behaviors following deployment pose a major public health concern. Although civilian populations have shown a relationship between aggressive behavior and binge drinking, aggressive behavior in soldiers has often been examined only in relation to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and combat. This study aims to determine the effects of binge drinking on aggressive behavior among soldiers, while controlling for these well-known correlates. Anonymous, cross-sectional survey data was collected from 2,420 soldiers approximately three months following return from deployment to Afghanistan. Survey items asked about mental health, combat experiences, past-month binge drinking (consuming six or more drinks on one occasion) and past-month aggressive behavior (yelling, kicking or smashing something, threatening someone with violence, or hitting someone at least once). Binge drinking was reported in 35% of soldiers; while 70% reported at least one aggressive behavior and 6% reported all four. Adjusting for demographic variables, PTSD, and combat experiences, soldiers who binge drank were nearly twice as likely (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.9, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.5-2.4) to engage in aggressive behavior. Of the aggression items, binge drinkers were most likely to threaten someone with physical violence (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.9-3.0) and to hit someone (AOR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.6-3.1). A third of soldiers engaged in past-month binge drinking and findings suggest that it is a risk factor for aggressive behavior, particularly threatening someone and engaging in physical violence. These results indicate a need for aggression to be addressed in alcohol counseling.