Could a Veterans’ Addiction Treatment Program Help You?
Men and women who serve the U.S. in the Armed Forces put their lives on the line for the freedom so many of us take for granted. That service, whether in peace or wartime, creates mental health disorders and unique challenges. When a veteran struggles with what has happened to them, they may turn to alcohol or drugs as a way to self-medicate. However, substance use leads to even more complications, including addiction.
Why Veterans Need Addiction Treatment
Men and women in the military experience various types of mental health complications:
- They manage intense stress, sometimes on a daily basis, for a long period of time.
- Some develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from what they see and experience in combat situations.
- Some experience sexual trauma.
- Many struggle with physical pain, sometimes chronically, due to injuries they’ve sustained, leading to overuse of pain medications.
In each one of these situations, any person could find themselves in need of support and mental health treatment. Many veterans struggle with several of these experiences at once, yet they must return to daily life after the military as if nothing happened. The lack of counseling and support systems can make life incredibly challenging.
That could be why an estimated 1.5 million veterans over the age of 17 struggle with a substance use disorder, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Signs You May Benefit from a Veterans’ Addiction Treatment Program
Stigmas exist for many veterans who need help with addiction or mental health disorders like PTSD. While we work to dismantle those stigmas through education, it can help individuals and family members to know the signs of addiction that warrant immediate help. Some of these signs include:
- Experiencing flashbacks or a movie-like replay of traumatic events
- Difficulty sleeping
- Needing to use drugs or alcohol on a daily basis
- Increasing use of drugs (using more or more often)
- Intense pain or cravings when not using drugs
- Relationship problems
- Difficulty maintaining responsibilities
- Engaging in self-destructive behavior
Additionally, many veterans also struggle with painkiller addiction. The signs of this addiction may include overuse of pain medications, running out of a prescription too soon, or using illicit forms of opioids, such as heroin, to get the same relief. The pain itself may become an indicator of dependence and withdrawal.
How to Get Help for Addiction as a Veteran
As a veteran, there are several ways you can get help. The first step may be speaking to their primary care doctor. In many cases, their doctor may recommend specialized treatment.
Victory Addiction Recovery Center offers a comprehensive Veterans’ program designed to provide you with a safe place to heal. Within this program, a client receives a wide range of treatment including:
- A medically supervised detox process to ensure a safe way of breaking dependence
- 30 to 90 days of residential treatment at our location
- Intensive outpatient treatment
- Partial hospitalization program for those with mental health disorder needs
- Sober living opportunities for men
- Ongoing aftercare and alumni support services
From that initial few days in detox and for the rest of your life, our team can be there to help you manage the ups and downs of recovery.
During your time with our compassionate therapists, you’ll have access to a wide range of therapies including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and motivational interviewing. You’ll work with other veterans who are going through similar experiences. We offer both individual and group therapy and, when appropriate, family therapy.
It is a combination of these services that can help you get to a healthy, safer place to live. Treatment can be very effective at restoring physical and mental health. We also provide spiritual and emotional support via holistic therapies that heal the whole body.
Help Is Available to Veterans Who Need Help Immediately
Spread awareness of the crisis line that can be used by both veterans and their loved ones – Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255 and press 1; chat online; or text 838255). At Victory Addiction Recovery Center, we make sure every veteran we treat has this number in hand when they leave our care.
Don’t ignore the signs of a need for addiction therapy. Reach out to Victory Addiction Recovery Center today for immediate support.
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