Best Treatment Programs for Substance Use Problems for VA

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is tasked with providing vital services to military service members once they leave active duty — including those related to healthcare. Unfortunately, many vets end up needing treatment programs for substance abuse issues. While using drugs isn’t common within ranks, addiction rates skyrocket after they leave the service.

Transformations Mending Fences understands the unique challenges faced by American veterans. This is why we know it’s important that substance abuse treatment programs for veterans be easy to find. And while anyone facing substance abuse disorder can get help at our facilities, upward of 40% of our patients have been veterans and first responders.

Take a moment to review all the treatment options for veterans, and if you think Transformations is the right choice for you, contact us today.

Substance Abuse Treatment Programs for Veterans

There are more options now than ever for veterans with substance abuse problems. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers a variety of options, and even if you don’t have VA healthcare benefits, there are still programs available. The following are some of the most common options.

VA Hospitals and Clinics

Many VA clinics and hospitals around the country offer treatment programs for veterans with substance use disorders (SUD). Even VA medical centers without devoted programs typically offer treatment for substance abuse. Veterans can also receive screening for related issues such as co-occurring disorders like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety.

Private Treatment Facilities

Many veterans who need substance abuse treatment opt for private facilities. These centers can differ in their ability to help those with drug use problems based on whether they have residential programs, the extent of their therapeutic offerings, whether they’re staffed by licensed professionals, and more.

Veterans sometimes choose private facilities because they have no nearby VA medical center. Still others opt for this route due to an expanded availability of treatment options. There are simply some proven therapeutic approaches that are cost-prohibitive for the VA. View the services provided by Transformations Mending Fences to get an idea of our offerings.

Community Vet Centers

If you don’t have VA medical benefits but served in a combat zone, you still have access to community vet centers. There are over 300 of these centers around the country, and they offer private counseling, drug and alcohol assessment, and a variety of other support services.

Differences in Veteran Treatment Programs

Discussing the differences among veteran substance abuse treatment programs can get tricky. This is because not all facilities — whether in the VA network or privately owned — are exactly the same. Whereas one private treatment program may offer peer-support programs, for instance, a similar facility may not. This holds true with VA properties as well.

For example, more rural areas may not have detox programs at their VA centers. This can be a significant problem since over 10% of all admissions into substance abuse programs at the VA involved heroin addiction. You need to make sure any VA medical facility offers the services you need. Half measures simply aren’t enough to overcome substance abuse.

And while the VA has shown vast improvements in recent years, there are still some centers that rank far below the national average. You can typically get an idea of what to expect with a VA substance abuse program by searching the center on Google. In many instances, you’ll find that private facilities receive much higher reviews.

Veteran Treatment Services at Transformations

Substance abuse treatment at VA centers has improved consistently over the years. Clients of Transformations Mending Fences, however, have access to holistic health options. This means our certified staff of professionals strives to treat you as a whole. You cannot deal with physical dependency on drugs, for instance, while ignoring the underlying mental health issues.

You’ll also find a variety of veteran substance abuse treatment options that you simply wouldn’t find at the VA. These include:

• The Help For Our Heroes Program
• Animal-assisted therapy
• Adventure Therapy
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Family therapy
• Grief and loss classes
• Artistic expression
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

These are just a few of the options provided by Transformations Mending Fences. The most important thing with any veteran substance abuse treatment program, though, is simply to get started. Don’t spend days, weeks, or months trying to decide on an approach to treatment. There are many options before you, so now is the time to seek help.

Don’t Let Substance Abuse Control Your Life

It’s a sad reality that the men and women who defend our country often end up fending for themselves. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case. The availability of services for veterans with substance abuse disorders has increased over time. And with hundreds of community vet centers around the country, help has never been more easily accessible.

In some cases, though, VA substance abuse programs may not be the best option. The availability of services varies by location, and private treatment programs typically offer more therapeutic approaches. If you’re ready to take back your life from addiction and substance abuse, contact us today. We’ll work nonstop to help you get on the path to recovery.