Guide to Getting Addiction Treatment through the VA

Veterans returning from combat face a slew of challenges as they attempt to acclimate back into their civilian lives. Unfortunately, many of them deal with this process by numbing the pain or blocking post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms with drugs. It highlights the urgency we must have for getting our veterans treatment through the United States Department of Veteran Affairs (VA).

Substance use disorders are a significant problem among our nation’s military veterans. There are many services and interventions available to help reduce substance use disorders among veterans. Some of these include behavioral and pharmacological treatments. Despite numerous attempts by the VA and other agencies over the past two decades to reduce problematic substance use, rates continually rise each year.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is one of the most significant problems plaguing veterans when they return from active duty. Substance use disorders are associated with medical issues, psychiatric disorders including depression or anxiety, interpersonal and vocational impairment, and increased rates of suicidal ideation and attempts. Military personnel released a study and found 30 percent of completed suicides were preceded by alcohol or drug use, and an estimated 20 percent of high-risk behavior deaths were attributed to alcohol or drug overdose.

The families of veterans will fight many battles of their own. It is common to go months or even years without seeing their loved one, not knowing if their spouse, child, or parent will ever make it home. For those who do make it back, the horrors of war are seldom left on the battlefield. The effects of PTSD, traumatic brain injuries and combat-related substance abuse can unravel even the tightest knit of families. The following guide will answer some of the most common questions families may have when their military family member is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Soldiers and Substance Abuse

Heavy drinking has long been a custom in military culture, but the most recent deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan have seen a spike in reported rates of consumption of controlled substances.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder in our veteran community is a growing epidemic. It can develop after a terrifying ordeal that involves physical harm, or the threat of bodily harm to the veteran or someone else. However, you don’t need to be harmed to develop PTSD, but it is possible to develop the disorder after witnessing friends, family members, or someone in your envoy being injured or threatened.

It is war veterans that have brought PTSD into the spotlight, but PTSD can also stem from traumatic events such as muggings, rape, torture, kidnappings, being held captive, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, or natural disasters. Today, hundreds of thousands of service men and women and recent military veterans who have seen combat may experience the disorder.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that PTSD afflicts:

• Almost 31 percent of Vietnam veterans
• As many as 10 percent of Gulf War (Desert Storm) veterans
• 11 percent of veterans in the Afghanistan war
• 20 percent of Iraqi war veterans

PTSD and Substance Abuse

PTSD and substance abuse almost go hand in hand, like peanut butter and jelly, and these conditions make it ripe for developing a substance use disorder. As time progresses using drugs or alcohol, it replaces average and healthy methods of coping with the stress and nerves of post-traumatic stress disorder. While many veterans will turn to controlled substances as a way to protect themselves against the emotional and physical toll of PTSD, the chemical effects of the drugs will eventually turn the veteran to rely on the substances consistently.

The veteran will abandon other methods of coping with the stresses of life such as family time or participating in hobbies. The emotional numbness they experience will make them isolate from what they once knew and love. Substance abuse causes its own set of problems, but the veteran will only find comfort in the abuse of drugs or alcohol.

How Can A Veteran Help Themselves?

The VA suggest the following:

“Develop a support network by getting in touch with other veterans and survivors of trauma, people who understand what PTSD entails, and people who can help protect against feelings of isolation and loneliness. Knowing that there’s someone out there, who speaks your language and knows your pain, can make all the difference in the world. Building such relationships can also help restore trust with other people (known and unknown alike), which is a key component in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.”

Many of these veterans find it difficult to cut back or abstain from using substances on their own. Effective treatments for substance use problems are available at the VA, and possible therapies address all issues related to substance use. The VA provides effective, scientifically proven services for all eligible veterans, no matter where they come from.

There are various options for those seeking treatment for substance use problems. These options include therapy, either alone or with a therapist in a group, as well as medications to help veterans reduce their use of alcohol tobacco, and drugs.

Sometimes, individuals will need to go through several types of treatment centers to find the one that is tailored specifically to their needs. Perhaps a veteran’s experience at the VA was not ideal, and they need a more customized approach. Fortunately, Serenity at Summit can be that next level of tailored care.

Let Serenity at Summit Be Your Next Step

If you are a veteran and need additional help that the VA cannot offer, it is imperative that you receive the treatment you need to not become a statistic. Addiction is a disease that can make someone lose everything, but fortunately, Serenity at Summit can help. Our staff at Serenity is equipped to deal with veterans of all ages and backgrounds.