Task Force on Behavioral Health Services for the Military and their Families

The North Carolina General Assembly directed the NCIOM to study the adequacy of mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services funded with Medicaid and state funds that are currently available to active, reserve, and National Guard members of the military, veterans, and their families. The Institute was also asked to determine any gaps in services.(Section 10.78(ff) of Session Law 2009-451; Sections 16, 19 of Session Law 2009-574). The Task Force will provide an interim report to the 2010 Session of the North Carolina General Assembly and a final report to the 2011 Session.

The United States Armed Forces include the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, and Coast Guard. Each of these branches are represented in North Carolina. This task force will focus on the needs of these servicemen and women, veterans and reservists, and their families.

North Carolina has the fourth largest number of military personnel in the country. There are currently 120,000 active duty personnel based at one of the seven military bases or deployed overseas. North Carolina is likely to receive 25,000 additional active duty members by 2011. Another 25,000 soldiers, marines and airmen live in all 100 counties of North Carolina and serve in the National Guard or Reserves. Military service also affects their families prior to, during, and post deployment. More than 100,000 children and adolescents of active members, National Guard and Reserves live in North Carolina. In addition, to the active military, there are 770,080 veterans who live in North Carolina.

Alcohol and drug use is a serious problem for many in the military. Almost one fourth of active duty military personnel and members of the National Guard reported alcohol abuse. Many of the returning veterans report post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and substance abuse disorders. Traumatic brain injury is another condition affecting a larger proportion of service members than the general population. TRICARE provides services to active duty service members and their families, and the Veterans Administration provides some services to certain veterans. However, the federally funded health services are not sufficient to meet all of the behavioral health needs of this population. State funded services can help fill in some of the gaps.