ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION AMONG CROATIAN COMBAT VETERANS

The aim of this study was to investigate the consumption of alcoholic beverages, among Croatian combat vereans and to determine the causes o f such behavior and the disturbances connected with it. To achieve thi s aim we examined a group of46 male veterans on rehabilitation, aged 2 0-51 years, and compared their results with those of a control group o f matched civilians. The results showed that the veterans consumed alc oholic beverages more frequently compared with the control group, at a level of statistical significance (p<0.01), and that alcohol dependen cy was more often diagnosed among them. The most frequent reasons for drinking among veterans were anxiety (41.4%) and fear (28.3%) as a con sequence of prior more frequent exposure to stressful situations compa red with the control group (p<0.01). The results stress the problem of drinking alcoholic beverages among veterans and suggest the need for carrying out systematic preventive and treatment programes.