If you’ve looked up veteran addiction statistics, you’ve probably seen numbers that don’t agree. One source says 1 in 10 veterans had a substance use disorder. Another says 1 in 15. You may also have heard the claim that 22 veterans die by suicide every day. The numbers come from different years and groups, and they don’t all measure the same thing.
This guide draws on SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reports to explain what these numbers actually measure and where veterans can find support.
Key Takeaways
- About 1 in 7 veterans (14.0%) had a past-year substance use disorder in 2023.
- After adjusting for age, substance use disorder rates were similar for veterans and nonveterans.
- Combat-zone veterans had higher alcohol use disorder rates; drug use disorder rates were similar.
- Only about 15% of veterans with a substance use disorder got treatment in 2023.
- 62% of veterans who died by suicide in 2024 hadn't received VA health care in the year they died or the previous year.
Veteran Addiction Statistics at a Glance
According to SAMHSA’s 2023 NSDUH veteran report, about 2.8 million veterans aged 18 and older (14.0%) met criteria for a substance use disorder in the past year. Alcohol use disorder was more common than drug use disorder, and about 1 million veterans (5.3%) had a substance use disorder and a mental illness at the same time.
Veterans aged 18 to 49 were more likely than those 50 and older to have a substance use disorder. Among veterans with a substance use disorder who didn’t receive treatment, nearly all said they didn’t need it. In the 2023 survey, only about 15% of veterans with a substance use disorder received treatment.
Why Veteran Addiction Statistics Don’t Match
Different figures often reflect who was counted, when the data were collected and what was measured. This table shows how several widely repeated claims compare with the available evidence.
| The number you’ve seen | Where it came from | What it actually measured | The current figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| “1 in 15 veterans” | SAMHSA, 2013 data | 6.6% of veterans aged 17 and older, measured using earlier survey methods | 14% in 2023; SAMHSA says not to compare pre-2021 data |
| “1 in 10” or “11%” | VA outpatient study | Veterans in a VA outpatient survey, not all veterans | 14% of veterans aged 18 and older in the 2023 NSDUH |
| “22 a day” | An older VA analysis of 1999–2010 data | Suicides from an earlier period | 17.7 per day in 2024, according to the VA’s 2026 report |
| “Veterans have far higher rates” | Raw comparisons | Rates not adjusted for age | Age-adjusted substance use disorder rates were similar for veterans and nonveterans |
| “Combat leads to drug addiction” | Assumption | Not a measured finding | Combat-zone veterans had higher alcohol use disorder rates; drug use disorder rates didn’t differ significantly |
How to Read Any Veteran Statistic
- Which veterans? All veterans, VA health care users, people already in treatment or one era of service?
- What year? Survey methods and diagnostic criteria change, so older estimates may not be comparable.
- Use, misuse or disorder? Binge drinking last month isn’t the same as an alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol, Drugs and Combat Service
SAMHSA’s pooled 2022–2024 NSDUH data compared veterans who served in a combat zone with those who didn’t. Combat-zone veterans had higher rates on every alcohol measure, while rates of illicit drug use and drug use disorder were similar between groups.
| Past-year or past-month measure | Combat-zone veterans | Higher than other veterans? |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking, past month | About 1 in 4 | Yes |
| Heavy drinking, past month | About 1 in 11 | Yes |
| Alcohol use disorder, past year | About 1 in 8 | Yes |
| Any mental illness, past year | About 1 in 5 | Yes |
| Serious thoughts of suicide, past year | About 1 in 20 | Yes |
| Illicit drug use, drug use disorder and any substance use disorder | Similar to other veterans | No significant difference |
These associations don’t prove that combat caused the differences. They do suggest that alcohol-related health risks deserve attention among veterans who served in combat zones. In 2023, about 2 in 5 veterans who drank alcohol in the past month reported binge drinking.
Overdose and Suicide: What the Data Shows
If you’re thinking about suicide or worried about a veteran, call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, or text 838255. It serves veterans, service members and their families, whether or not they’re enrolled in VA care. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911.
A national study of veteran overdose deaths found age-adjusted overdose death rates among veterans rose 53.2% between 2010 and 2019, from 19.8 to 30.3 per 100,000. Rates rose faster among nonveterans, but deaths involving synthetic opioids and stimulants kept climbing for veterans through 2019. Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose, so keeping it accessible can help in an emergency. Our guide on how to administer naloxone walks through the steps, and our overdose statistics page covers national trends.
The VA’s 2026 suicide prevention report counted 6,488 veteran suicides in 2024, about 17.7 per day. In the VA’s 2025 report, veterans in recent VA care with a substance use disorder diagnosis died by suicide at a rate of 97.2 per 100,000 in 2023, compared with 28.3 among those with no mental health or substance use condition. Addressing substance use can be one part of suicide prevention.
What the Numbers Miss
These figures are useful, but they don’t capture every veteran or every outcome:
- Survey limits. NSDUH surveys civilian household residents and people in some group settings, including shelters. It excludes active-duty military personnel, incarcerated people, long-term hospital residents and people experiencing homelessness who aren’t in shelters.
- Small samples. The 2023 survey included 2,550 veterans, so some estimates were too imprecise to publish.
- Missed deaths. In a San Diego County study, VA records alone captured just 9.6% of accidental veteran overdose deaths before matching medical examiner data.
- Care outside the VA. In 2024, 62% of veterans who died by suicide hadn’t received VA health care in the year of death or the previous year. That limits what VA health records alone can show.
What the Data Means If You Need Help Now
In the 2023 NSDUH, most veterans with a substance use disorder didn’t receive treatment. Whether you’re enrolled in VA care or not, you can explore options without figuring everything out first. Our veteran addiction hotline page covers VA, Community Care and non-VA treatment paths in more detail.
| If this sounds like you | Where to start |
|---|---|
| You’re enrolled in VA health care | Ask your VA primary care team about substance use treatment and whether VA Community Care could cover a nearby program. |
| You haven’t enrolled in VA health care or aren’t sure you qualify | Apply for VA health care at VA.gov and explore non-VA treatment options at the same time. |
| You have TRICARE, Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance | Coverage varies by plan and provider. Ask your insurer which community treatment programs are covered, or verify your insurance. A referral line can also help you find nearby options. |
| You’re worried about a veteran in your life | You can call for treatment information and referrals on their behalf. If they’re in crisis, contact the Veterans Crisis Line. |
The Most Hopeful Number
In SAMHSA’s 2023 data, 4 in 5 veterans (79.3%) who believed they’d had a substance use problem at some point described themselves as recovering or in recovery. That’s encouraging, but it reflects how these veterans described their recovery, not a treatment success rate.
Get Help Today
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. For a mental health or suicidal crisis, call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, or text 838255. The National Rehab Hotline at 866-210-1303 is for non-emergency information, support and referrals.
When you’re ready to explore treatment options, call the National Rehab Hotline at 866-210-1303, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. You don’t have to face this alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What Percentage of Veterans Struggle With Addiction? According to SAMHSA’s 2023 data, about 2.8 million veterans aged 18 and older (14.0%) had a substance use disorder in the past year. Alcohol use disorder was the most common type.
- Are Veterans More Likely Than Civilians to Have a Substance Use Disorder? Not overall. After age adjustment, SAMHSA found similar past-year substance use disorder rates among veterans and nonveterans. Younger veterans had higher rates than older veterans. Veterans who’d served in combat zones also had higher alcohol use disorder rates than those who hadn’t.
- Is the “22 Veterans a Day” Suicide Statistic Still Accurate? No. That figure came from data collected between 1999 and 2010. The VA’s 2026 report counted 6,488 veteran suicides in 2024, an average of 17.7 per day. If you’re in crisis, call 988 and press 1 or text 838255.
- Do Veterans Have to Use the VA to Get Addiction Treatment? No. Depending on eligibility and coverage, veterans may use TRICARE, Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance to pay for treatment outside the VA. Those enrolled in VA care may also qualify for VA Community Care.
- Is Calling the National Rehab Hotline Free and Confidential? Yes. Calling 866-210-1303 is free and confidential, and the line is available 24/7 for non-emergency information, guidance and referrals. It isn’t affiliated with the VA. For a crisis, call 988 and press 1.
Whenever you’re ready, calling 866-210-1303 is free, confidential and commits you to nothing.
Sources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Among the Veteran Population Aged 18 or Older.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2025). Mental Health and Substance Use Among Veterans: 2022–2024 NSDUH.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. NSDUH Data Spotlight: Veterans (2013 data).
- VA outpatient survey study of substance use disorder among veterans. PMC6608681.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2026, September 30). VA releases annual veteran suicide prevention report updated with 2024 data.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2025). National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, Part 2.
- Veteran drug overdose mortality, 2010–2019. (2022). PubMed ID 35219064.
- New methodology to improve tracking of veteran overdose deaths and characterization of a population of veteran overdose decedents in San Diego County. PMC12664422.
