Program to help returning soldiers

May 8, 2008

Anne Arundel County health officials are launching a program to help returning military personnel who are grappling with mental health and drug abuse issues.

More than 360 military personnel have returned to Anne Arundel County in the past six months, a number thought to be the highest of any Maryland county.

Anne Arundel Health Officer Frances B. Phillips said her department will carve out funding from a drug abuse assistance program that operates on a $2.3 million budget and is funded in part by local and state governments.

The program will make use of a hot line and will also be available to soldiers' families. Although a similar initiative is in the works at the state level, the county assistance plan could launch as early as July 1.

A report last month by the Rand Corp. found that one in five war veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan suffers from major depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Of the Anne Arundel veterans, 356 served in Iraq, 51 in Afghanistan and 33 in both. Prince George's County had the second- highest number of veterans with 350, followed by Montgomery County, which had 224 soldiers return from battle zones since last October. The numbers are based on discharge papers provided by the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, health officials said.

The Anne Arundel treatment referral hot line is 410-222-0117.

Steven Stanek

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Program to help returning soldiers

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