When someone decides to participate in veteran drug and alcohol rehab programs, their treatment provider should personalize a plan just for their needs. This plan might include a continuum of care. A veteran will begin with a higher, more intensive level of care early on during a continuum-of-care approach to addiction treatment. Then, as they’re ready, they gradually progress in their treatment program into less intensive care levels that offer more opportunities for self-accountability.
Who We Help
Veterans
Discover how our specialized programs can help you find healing & recovery.
Veterans
Addiction Treatment for Veterans
Substance abuse rates among veterans are, unfortunately, high. One reason for this is because of post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. It’s somewhat common when someone is dealing with PTSD for them to use substances, including drugs or alcohol. There are often close links between substance misuse, addiction, and PTSD.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 2 out of 10 veterans with PTSD also have a substance use disorder. Nearly 1 in 3 vets who are seeking treatment for addiction also have PTSD. In the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, around 1 in 10 veterans have a problem with alcohol or other drugs when they return.
For veterans, treatment options are available. Addiction treatment for veterans should be trauma-informed and provide a dual diagnosis approach to both the addiction and underlying mental health disorders.
Centric Behavioral Health offers facilities around the country providing addiction treatment for military veterans. Contact us today to learn more about our top-rated addiction treatment centers near you.
Treatment Options
Our world-class programs offer evidence-based treatment for substance abuse, dual-diagnosis and mental health conditions in boutique environments. From our expertly trained staff to our individualized treatment planning, when you choose one of our facilities you can trust you are in good hands.
We work with most major insurance carriers.
Centric Behavioral Health facilities work with most major health insurance carriers in order to provide effective, accessible treatment options for substance abuse and mental health.
PTSD in Veterans
PTSD is one of the most common mental health disorders that active military members and veterans face.
This psychiatric disorder occurs in people who experienced either a single traumatic or life-threatening event or a traumatic set of circumstances. Someone with PTSD will have disturbing and intense thoughts and feelings that relate to the experience, lasting long after the end of the event. Signs of PTSD include nightmares and flashbacks, sadness, anger and fear, and detachment from other people. Some people with this mental health disorder will avoid the people or situations that remind them of a trauma-causing event. They might also have strong reactions to something simple and be easily startled.
Symptoms of PTSD can fall into four categories including:
Thoughts are intrusive, involuntary, and repeated, such as flashbacks or troubling dreams.
A person affected by PTSD might avoid reminders of the traumatic event or try to resist talking or thinking about it.
When affected by PTSD, an individual might be unable to remember certain parts of the traumatic event. They could experience self-blame, lose interest in other activities, or be unable to experience positive emotions and happiness.
These symptoms might include irritability or experiencing outbursts of anger. Someone with untreated PTSD could behave self-destructively or be overly vigilant. Symptoms can also include problems sleeping or concentrating.
It’s somewhat common to use alcohol or drugs to cope with symptoms of untreated PTSD. Veterans with PTSD might rely on drugs or alcohol to help them relax and feel less on edge, sleep, or deal with situations they’d otherwise prefer to avoid. Using substances can worsen PTSD symptoms, though.
Centric Behavioral Health is a national addiction treatment provider with locations in different states. All of our care is trauma-informed. Our veteran’s drug and alcohol rehab programs provide dual diagnosis care for veterans with PTSD and other mental health disorders playing a role in the development of a substance use disorder.
What to Look for in a Veteran Drug Rehab Program
The treatments for PTSD and other mental health disorders can be similar to treating addiction. Research-proven methods include talk therapy and medication.
For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a highly effective part of veteran addiction treatment programs. There are also subtypes of CBT that work well for veterans struggling with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders, like cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure therapy. There’s also Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or EMDR therapy for PTSD, which is a psychotherapy that’s trauma-focused.
When choosing addiction treatment for veterans, other things that you might look for in a program include:
- Programs that take a holistic approach to nurture all of the veteran’s needs, not just their addiction.
- Skills training to learn coping mechanisms for dealing with stress in everyday life.
- Veteran addiction treatment programs should highlight the correlations between PTSD and substance abuse.
- In addiction treatment for veterans, there might be an exploration of how to identify and manage relapse triggers.
- Some veterans benefit from family therapy to help repair relationships.
Centric Behavioral Health has programs around the country that specifically focus on the unique needs and experiences of our nation’s veterans.
Begin Your Journey
Your journey to wellness begins at one of Centric Behavioral Health’s top-rated programs around the country. Our caring admissions team is standing by ready to help you right now.
Types of Addiction Treatment Programs
The first step of a comprehensive addiction treatment program for veterans is often medical detox. When you detox from drugs and alcohol, it’s likely you’ll have withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms are difficult and even dangerous to manage on your own.
Medical detox is a safe and comfortable environment, with medical care and medications provided when needed and medically appropriate. Medications can help reduce symptoms of drug or alcohol withdrawal, so a client can successfully complete this first step of treatment.
Inpatient rehab is residential, so clients live onsite during this part of their treatment plan. There’s the unique benefit of the environment being free of triggers and distractions. Clients are with other veterans who might share similar experiences or can offer them a sense of support.
Inpatient rehab is the most intensive care level, giving clients the chance to focus fully on their treatment and recovery.
At Centric Behavioral Health, we have several levels of outpatient care. These include a partial hospitalization program, which is much like inpatient rehab in terms of a structured treatment day. The only difference is that clients can return home or to a sober living house when the treatment day ends.
An intensive outpatient program is a step down from partial hospitalization but is more intensive than traditional outpatient.
Traditional outpatient programs offer the highest degree of flexibility for clients.
Aftercare is a very important part of a veteran’s treatment plan. Our team starts planning for aftercare as soon as someone comes to one of our facilities for treatment.
Your aftercare plan outlines the steps you’ll take as you return to your daily life to continue to maintain and build on your recovery.
Aftercare plans might include supportive housing and referrals to mental and physical health care providers. Therapy appointments could be arranged, and aftercare often also includes participation in a 12-step group or another type of support group.
Effective Addiction Treatment for Military Veterans
Along with trauma-informed care, effective addiction treatment for military veterans needs to be backed by leading-edge research. Addiction science informs the treatment of addiction as a disease. Effective treatment for a veteran also needs to be sensitive to unique experiences and should include a sense of compassion.
Connect with Veteran Addiction Treatment Programs Today
If you want to take the next step, or learn more about programs available for veterans who are struggling with addiction, contact Centric Behavioral Health. We have facilities nationwide with programs specifically to treat addiction and co-occurring disorders among military veterans. If you are looking for addiction treatment services in Florida and Tennessee or near you, Centric Behavioral Health Can help. If you’d like to learn more about our inpatient drug rehab centers, contact us today.
Let Us Help You Learn to Thrive
Centric Behavioral Health is dedicated to helping others. Our mission is to connect those who contact us with our trusted treatment programs around the country. Contact us today to learn more about our expert programs and how we can help you find long-term healing today.