Call 888-647-0579 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.

Who Answers?

Treatment Options for Veterans

Many veterans experience the ravages of war and combat first-hand. Most anyone put through these types of experiences carries some form of emotional and even psychological scarring. Couple this with the wide range of physical injuries that take place, and it is little wonder drug addiction affects so many veterans in one form or another.

Not unlike anyone else struggling with drug addiction, there are treatment options for veterans to help them overcome. Doing so can mean the difference between struggling with a lifelong addiction and living a drug-free life. Fortunately, the U.S. Veterans Administration makes needed treatment help readily available for veterans wanting to break an addiction habit.

Drug Abuse Causes

Treatment is available to veterans with substance abuse and mental health issues!

Alcohol, street drugs and even prescription medications all offer easily accessible ways for veterans to escape from painful memories and difficult emotions. For veterans who have been injured in combat, prescription medications intended as treatments can quickly become the source of an uncontrollable habit. Whether dealing with difficult emotions or treating a medical condition, alcohol and drug abuse issues create whole other sets of problems, both physical and psychological.

Many veterans suffer from a range of psychological conditions, some of which include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety disorders. These conditions can drive most anyone to alcohol and/or drugs as a means to self-medicate distressing symptoms. Over time, ongoing drug use starts to affect a person’s health, relationships and ability to hold down a job.

Veterans affected by drug abuse and addiction issues struggle with chronic conditions that only become progressively worse with time. Treatment options are many, though each person’s individual needs determine which types of treatment will work best.

The Veterans Administration or VA consists of a network of treatment facilities located in most every area of the country. Veterans affected by pain pill addictions, alcoholism, psychological disorders or drug addiction can find the types of supports and guidance needed to overcome drug abuse problems.

Veterans Administration Services

Veterans seeking help from the Veterans Administration undergo a comprehensive assessment process to determine a person’s specific treatment needs, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs site. The types of services offered by the VA cover a wide range of treatment approaches as well as assistance benefits. Some of the services offered through the VA include:

Marriage and family counseling
Outpatient therapy
Outpatient drug treatment
Detoxification services
Support groups
Medication-assisted therapies for drug addiction problems
Residential care
Aftercare drug treatment services
Vocational training assistance
Job search assistance
Housing assistance

VA Drug Treatment Options

For the most part, VA drug treatment options are the same as those offered anywhere else in terms of the types of facilities and treatments used. As drug addictions can take any number of different forms, some veterans may best benefit from receiving multiple treatment approaches, such as therapy and medication while others may only require therapy treatment.

As many veterans develop psychological problems from experiences had while serving in the military, counseling treatment plays a central role in helping veterans overcome both psychological and substance abuse problems.

More Treatment & Detox Articles

Alcohol Treatment Costs

When you or a loved one is addicted to alcohol chances are the cost of alcohol treatment is weighing heavily on your mind. How much will it cost? Who will pay for it? How will I pay for it? Can I afford it? The questions reel through your head and all you can think is….

Drink with mother

You expect your parents to teach you things. But alcoholism? Frances White recalls how her mum encouraged her to binge when she was just a child – and eventually passed on her own addiction I was nine when my mum poured me my first drink. “Here,” she said, handing me a glass of Cinzano and….

That Tricky Third Step

A new documentary looks at how people of different religions deal with the faith-based elements of Alcoholics Anonymous. Having been born in Akron, OH, the birthplace of Alcoholics Anonymous, filmmaker Josh Gippin was well acquainted with the organization. But it was only more recently, as he jumped into a documentary about AA entitled God As….

Adverse Consequences of Binge Drinking

In the United States, a standard drink is one that contains about one-half an ounce of pure alcohol. Generally, this amount of pure alcohol is found in 12 ounces of regular beer, 10 ounces of wine cooler, 8 ounces of malt liquor, 5 ounces of wine or one-and-a-half ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor….

Benefits of Private Prescription Drug Treatment

Private prescription drug treatment program

When you are addicted to prescription medications, private drug treatment can be the most beneficial option to assure your greatest chance of making a full recovery. Unlike traditional treatment centers that may be funded by insurance coverage or state policy, private prescription drug treatment programs are privately funded and this allows for ample resources, better….