Addiction Treatment for Military Members
When a military service member returns home from his or her deployment, even when it’s a stint in an undisputed part of the world, he or she is at risk of developing physical and mental health issues as a result of their experiences. Some might call this “just part of the job,” but the development of such issues can have dangerous, even fatal, consequences.
Have Questions About Your Military Insurance Benefits?
JourneyPure Louisville is proud to accept and treats patients with TRICARE plans. Continue reading to find out if JourneyPure’s military-specific addiction and mental health treatments are right for you or your loved one.
Mental Health Disorders and Substance Abuse Among Service Members
Because of their wartime experiences, many veterans and active-duty military personnel find themselves living with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health disorders. Such disorders have been shown to increase a person’s vulnerability to alcoholism and substance use disorder. After all, diagnoses of substance use disorders have a higher probability to occur in those who have experienced trauma or stress-related issue.
While few people in the service risk using illicit drugs, since it can result in a dishonorable discharge and a loss of wages, drinking is an ingrained part of military culture. This attitude can carry into one’s post-military life. One study of almost 600 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan found that 39 percent of veterans screened positive for probable alcohol abuse.
And though the opioid epidemic has taken hold to a lesser degree in the military population than it has among civilians, the Armed Forces has seen a significant rise of addiction to opioids, partly because many veterans are treated with powerful pain medications for their physical injuries.
One of the biggest risk factors of a veteran’s alcoholism or substance use disorder is the possible havoc it can have on the family, leading to a sense of isolation and resentment on the part of the addict, and feelings of hopelessness among his or her loved ones.
Military-Specific Addiction Treatment
Roughly half of all returning military service individuals who require mental health treatment seek treatment, but only a quarter receive the mental health treatment they need.
Veterans looking for treatment for substance use issues usually have more options than the average civilian. In addition to inpatient and outpatient rehab programs, veterans have the unique option to seek treatment through the Department of Veterans Affairs, which offers:
- Individual and family counseling
- Group therapy
- PTSD-specific treatment
- Inpatient, or residential, and outpatient rehab
- Medications for withdrawal symptoms
However, for some veterans in need of substance abuse and mental health treatment, the VA may not be the best option, for a few reasons. First, the wait periods at certain VA locations can be extensive. Second, with the stigma associated with a substance use disorder, some veterans feel they could receive better treatment and care in the private sector.
In cases when there is not an appropriate VA facility within a reasonable traveling distance, some veterans may be able to receive private-sector care that is covered by the government. Fortunately, immediate treatment that is capable of treating veterans’ specific needs is widely available outside the VA.
In any case, veterans who believe they face serious substance use or mental health issues should not wait. These problems do not go away by themselves.
Dual Diagnosis Therapy
It is not uncommon for patients suffering from a substance use disorder to also experience a mental health issue like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or PTSD. This dynamic is known as a “co-occurring disorder.”
Studies suggest that people with mental health disorders are far more likely to abuse substances to cope. There are approximately 9 million Americans who abuse alcohol or drugs that have an undiagnosed mental health disorder. Unfortunately, less than 10 percent of this population receives the dual diagnosis treatment it needs.
JourneyPure’s dual diagnosis therapy provides integrated services to address both addiction and mental health disorders simultaneously. Research shows this to be a more effective treatment program than when only one end of the spectrum is addressed.
About Us
JourneyPure Louisville is focused on providing military active duty, veterans, and their family members with quality addiction and mental health treatment. When enrolled with JourneyPure, clients are provided with the tools needed to achieve and maintain sobriety and wellness.
Our treatment programs are accredited by the Joint Commission and CARF as a rehabilitation facility, providing clients with the assurance that the care they receive is in keeping with the highest treatment standards.
When a client is brought in to the JourneyPure family, he or she is provided with an individualized treatment plan designed to meet his or her unique needs. With a small staff-to-patient ratio and passionate commitment to recovery, the JourneyPure approach provides patients with the tools needed for long-term success.
By participating in substance use and mental health treatment at JourneyPure Louisville, you will be given a second chance at the life you deserve. Call now to learn more about how our program can help you and your loved ones.
