Addiction can impact anyone. Substance use disorders (SUDs) are not a sign of weakness or moral failing. They are diseases that result from a variety of causes. At Safe Harbor Recovery Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, our team members receive specialized training in how to treat Veterans who are struggling with mental health or SUDs, and we are certified by PsychArmor to provide the highest level of care for Veterans.
Why Veterans Sometimes Face Addiction
Approximately 11 percent of Veterans receiving care for the first time through the VHA system meet the criteria for a SUD. Veterans face all of the struggles civilians face, plus some difficulties that are unique to a history of military service and can increase their risk of developing a SUD:
- Trauma – this may mean personal trauma anyone could experience, as well as the trauma of combat situations. Around 1 in 5 Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also have an SUD.
- Stress from living far from friends, family, and significant others
- High rates of divorce
- Losing colleagues who are like family to warfare and suicide
- Military culture that:
- Stigmatizes acknowledging mental illness or addiction by causing fear of negative consequences in their military career
- Promotes heavy drinking and other risky behaviors
- Increased risk of chronic pain and medical issues related to military service, which may lead to doctors prescribing opioids. Veterans who are prescribed opioids are especially high risk for developing an opioid addiction if they have co-occurring mental health conditions, such as:
- PTSD – nearly 1/3 of all Veterans and 2/3 of Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans with SUDs also have PTSD, which also increases their risk of medical conditions, including seizures, liver problems, and HIV.
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Schizophrenia
- Difficulty adjusting to civilian life following military service
Issues Veterans Face Because of SUD and Mental Illness
Veterans with co-occurring PTSD and SUD are likely to run into the following problems:
- Relying on substances to help them with things like sleep, relaxation, and stress management, even though substances actually make those things more difficult
- Worsening relationships with family and friends as a result of substance use
- Mental and physical health problems growing worse due to substance use
- Difficulty maintaining work and academic performance
Veterans and Suicide
Anyone who has a mental health disorder, an SUD, or both is at greater risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts. This includes Veterans. Not only are Veterans who struggle with mental illness and addiction more likely to plan suicide, but, because they have increased access to firearms, they are also likely to be successful in their attempt. If you are concerned that a Veteran could be struggling with suicidal thoughts, it is important to discuss your concerns with them right away and help them seek professional support:
- Ask if they have had thoughts of ending their life and if they have a plan for how they might do so.
- If possible, remove their access to things they would use to kill themselves, such as guns, sharp objects, chemicals, extra doses of medication, ropes, etc.
- Connect them to professional support by assisting them in contacting the VA, their therapist, the Veterans’ Crisis Line, or their spiritual leader.
- Do not leave them alone while they are having thoughts of suicide. If needed, help them contact other family and friends who can stay with them until the crisis has passed.
- Call 911 or take them to the nearest emergency room if a plan cannot be made to keep them safe.
Barriers to Receiving Treatment
Veterans may have a difficult time getting the care they need for SUDs and mental illness for a wide range of reasons:
- Fear of negative consequences and stigma as a result of military culture
- Homelessness makes it harder to access any type of health care – around 11 percent of homeless people are Veterans and around 70 percent of homeless Veterans struggle with SUDs.
- Worry that acknowledging a problem will lead their doctor to remove the opioids they use to manage chronic pain
- Feeling like a failure if they ask for help
- Gaps in insurance coverage
What We Offer Veterans
Our trauma-informed Tactical Recovery program includes:
- Partial hospitalization (PHP) or 45 days of residential treatment
- Individualized treatment plans focused on whole-person wellness, offering such things as yoga, nutrition education, and gym equipment
- Collaboration between our staff and the VA and other Veteran-specific supports
- Equine therapy
- Neurofeedback
- Relapse prevention
- Aftercare
At Safe Harbor Recovery Center, we are honored to support Veterans who are struggling with mental health or substance use disorders with Veteran-centric care, medically supervised withdrawal management, and a professional team that includes Veterans and people in long-term recovery. We welcome service dogs and actively engage our patients’ families in the treatment process when appropriate.