Veterans often face unique difficulties when transitioning back to civilian life after military service. Traumatic experiences during deployment, such as combat or wartime violence, can lead to lasting psychological issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
These factors put veterans at high risk for developing substance abuse disorders related to alcohol or drugs as they attempt to self-medicate the symptoms of their trauma or difficulty adjusting.
In this article, we’ll discuss therapy techniques known to be effective when treating addiction and trauma disorders in veterans. We will explore how these therapies allow veterans to process their experiences, build healthy coping strategies, and regain life stability.
Why are Veterans at High Risk of Substance Abuse?
Military service can have a profound impact on mental health, influenced by various factors such as:
- Combat exposure can lead to PTSD, depression, and anxiety due to the trauma of witnessing violence and danger.
- Deployments are stressful due to separation from loved ones, living in danger, and disruption to everyday life.
- Traumatic brain injuries from combat blasts can cause cognitive and emotional symptoms.
- The grief over losing comrades through combat deaths can lead to mental health struggles.
- Transitioning from the military to civilian life brings significant adjustment challenges.
- Stigma and access barriers prevent some service members from seeking mental health treatment.
- Military life also strains family relationships due to relocations, deployments, and mental health impacts.
Studies show that millions of veterans struggle with substance abuse. In 2020, 5.2 million veterans developed a mental illness and/or a substance abuse disorder. But there is hope—help is available.
Types of Addiction Treatment Program
Addiction treatment programs cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach, especially for veterans. Veterans face distinct challenges that necessitate tailored treatment plans addressing their specific needs in rehab. During intake assessments at addiction treatment centers, more info is given to help thoroughly evaluate veterans based on criteria like:
- Severity of substance abuse
- Presence of co-occurring disorders
- Risk factors for relapse
- Support systems in place
Based on the assessments, the veterans are matched with the level and type of care that targets the root causes, mental health issues, and transition challenges contributing to their addiction.
Here are the different rehabilitation programs.
- Inpatient rehab
It requires living full-time at a treatment facility, usually for several weeks or months. The immersive setting removes access to addictive substances and ingrained habits. Individual and group counseling addresses underlying psychological factors leading to addiction.
Life skills classes teach healthy coping techniques to avoid relapse. Regular drug testing ensures people remain completely abstinent during treatment.
- Outpatient rehab
This rehabilitation program allows veterans to attend structured daytime treatment sessions while maintaining work or family commitments. It provides counseling, skills classes, and drug testing similar to inpatient but is less intensive. Outpatient rehab is best suited for milder addictions or as a step-down continuing care after inpatient treatment.
- Detox programs
A drug detox program provides 24/7 medical monitoring as people stop taking an addictive substance. Doctors administer medications to ease withdrawal symptoms like nausea, anxiety, and insomnia that can happen when halting drug use abruptly.
Medical staff manage dangerous side effects of withdrawal, such as seizures or hallucinations. After detox, the substance is fully eliminated from a person’s body.
- Partial hospitalization
This blends aspects of inpatient and outpatient programming. Patients attend treatment sessions about five days a week but do not live onsite. This allows access to more medical care and counseling than typical outpatient care while still practicing new skills at home with family support. Partial hospitalization eases the transition from 24/7 rehab while reducing the risk of relapse.
Addiction Therapies for Veterans
Veterans who struggle with dependence on drugs or alcohol need customized treatment plans suited to the specific events and demands they have faced.
Learning about the different kinds of therapies that exist can significantly help these veterans as they work to overcome their substance use issues and improve their health and quality of life.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a talk therapy approach that centers on identifying detrimental thoughts and behaviors associated with substance abuse. The goal of CBT is to change these negative thoughts and behavior patterns. The therapist helps the veteran identify troubling thoughts they are having, like feeling inadequate, dwelling on the trauma they endured, or feeling unable to cope with stress.
The therapist teaches coping techniques to counteract those thoughts. For example, they might teach the veteran to challenge the negative thoughts and see situations more realistically. Or they might teach relaxation skills, problem-solving strategies, and healthy distraction methods to overcome cravings and anxiety.
- Seeking Safety
This therapy is specifically tailored for veterans experiencing both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse. Seeking Safety uses coping skills and psychoeducation to help veterans attain safety from trauma symptoms and substance abuse. It works to rebuild trust, create hope for recovery, and give alternative skills for managing distress.
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
MAT combines behavioral therapy with medications that help mitigate withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings. MAT helps normalize brain chemistry disrupted by drug abuse while allowing veterans to focus on counseling and support programs critical for recovery.
Medications like buprenorphine, naltrexone, and methadone help reduce opioid and alcohol dependence.
- Peer Support Groups
Peer support groups are an invaluable part of veterans’ healing and recovery process. Connecting with other veterans who have gone through similar traumas and challenges fosters a sense of community and shared understanding that is difficult to find elsewhere.
In a support group setting, veterans can share their experiences in a judgment-free space. They don’t have to explain or justify what they went through in detail – the other members already have an innate comprehension. This allows veterans to talk honestly about their struggles, which is a major step towards healing.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
This treatment works by using eye movements or tapping while recalling traumatic memories. EMDR Therapy helps process the emotions connected to those memories. For veterans with trauma-triggering substance abuse, EMDR can make those triggers less distressing and lessen the urge to self-medicate.
During EMDR sessions, the veteran recalls disturbing memories related to their trauma while simultaneously engaging in lateral eye movements or tapping. The bilateral stimulation of the brain through these actions helps facilitate the processing of difficult memories and their associated emotions.
- Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment
This approach aims to deal with addiction and other mental health issues like PTSD, depression, and anxiety at the same time. It combines addiction treatment with mental health care. The goal is to give veterans personalized support for their unique needs.
Treatment may involve medication, individual counseling, group therapy, and peer support. This helps promote recovery and overall well-being.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a powerful treatment approach that directly addresses the deep-rooted issues that often underlie addiction in veterans. DBT has two integrated components that promote healing: individual counseling sessions and skills training classes.
It helps veterans dig out the roots fueling substance abuse through counseling while giving them tools to foster long-term change through skills training. Veterans emerge better able to navigate difficulties and manage their illnesses.
- Contingency Management
Contingency management is an evidence-based practice frequently used in addiction treatment programs. Its incentive-based system provides concrete, attainable goals for veterans to work towards in managing their addiction. Celebrating small wins boosts morale and self-efficacy on the path to recovery.
For example, a veteran may receive voucher rewards for negative drug tests over a certain period. Or they can accumulate points through positive behaviors like attending therapy sessions or peer support groups.
Alternative Healing Approach
Alternative therapies for substance abuse take a holistic approach instead of just focusing on the addiction. They aim to improve overall well-being by addressing the mind, body, and spirit together.
While alternative therapies may offer benefits and appeal to those seeking natural recovery, there is limited research on their effectiveness for treating addiction specifically. Individuals interested in alternative therapies should use them under the guidance of professionals, along with comprehensive addiction treatment.
- Yoga and Meditation
Sitting quietly with breathing exercises or gentle stretches can help veterans find calmness. Reducing stress and turning attention inward promotes self-awareness and relaxation. This allows for healing from the inside out.
- Acupuncture
Placing tiny needles placed in specific spots is known to lessen pain, cravings, and imbalance, veteran. Acupuncture creates overall balance to help your body and mind heal. Thousands of years of practice show its ability to aid recovery.
- Art Therapy
Expressing themselves creatively through art materials allows the processing of emotions and trauma. Under a therapist’s guidance, exploring feelings through art fosters understanding of self and healing. New self-discovery emerges through color and shape.
- Music Therapy
Listening to or creating music with a therapist helps with communication and the expression of emotion. Making music together allows healing through joyful melody and rhythm. Stress and tension dissolve in musical understanding.
Equine Therapy
This therapy involves interacting with horses under the supervision of a therapist to develop trust, communication skills, emotional regulation, and self-confidence. Spending time with horses soothes emotions, reduces stress, and cultivates empathy. By understanding their reactions, veterans may gain greater self-awareness to heal emotional wounds.
Challenges Treating Substance Abuse In Veterans
Treating substance abuse in veterans presents several unique challenges, often stemming from their military service experiences, mental health issues, and social support networks. Here are some of the key challenges:
- Co-occurring Disorders: Many veterans struggle with co-occurring mental health disorders such as PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), depression, anxiety, or traumatic brain injury (TBI), which can complicate substance abuse treatment.
- Stigma and Denial: There may be a stigma associated with seeking help for substance abuse within military culture, which can lead to denial or reluctance to seek treatment.
- Lack of Trust in Healthcare System: Some veterans may have a lack of trust in healthcare systems due to negative experiences or perceptions, which can be a roadblock to their willingness to engage in treatment.
- Access to Specialized Care: Not all healthcare providers may be trained in addressing the unique needs of veterans, including their military culture, experiences, and associated challenges.
- Barriers to Treatment: Some veterans may face logistical barriers to accessing treatment, such as limited transportation options, financial constraints, or lack of awareness of available resources.
- Dual Diagnosis and Poly-Substance Abuse: Veterans battling addiction also struggle with mental health conditions, which are known as “dual diagnosis.” Some veterans misuse multiple substances together, known as “poly-substance abuse,” which makes treatment more complex given the numerous chemical dependencies.
What is a Relapse Prevention Plan for Veterans?
A relapse prevention plan helps veterans in addiction recovery. It teaches them to spot warning signs. And ways to stay strong if they want to use it again.
The plan is made with counselors and shared with support groups. It gives clear steps to deal with cravings or triggers without using.
Relapse often happens slowly in 3 stages:
- Emotional relapse – feelings that make you want to use
- Mental relapse – thinking reasons why using might be ok
- Physical relapse – actually taking the drug again
The plan helps catch early emotional and mental signs. So people can take action before reaching physical relapse.
Relapse Prevention Techniques
Here are some of the main relapse prevention techniques that can be incorporated into aftercare plans for veterans overcoming substance abuse:
- Identify Triggers – Becoming aware of high-risk triggers like certain people, places, emotions, or situations that create drug or alcohol cravings helps minimize exposure to them. Tracking triggers and reactions in a journal also builds insight.
- Cope Ahead – Veterans anticipate challenging scenarios—a painful anniversary, feeling lonely or frustrated—and prepare specific healthy coping strategies for each one ahead of time. This removes reacting impulsively.
- Stop Thoughts – When experiencing tempting thoughts or rationalizing reasons to use substances, veterans learn skills to halt and redirect thinking to safer mindsets. Techniques like distracting, grounding, disputing, or meditating shift attention.
- Support Network – Establishing contacts to reach out to for counseling, encouragement, healthy activities, or crisis support supplies caring accountability, guidance, and motivation during vulnerable periods.
- Self-Care – Engaging in positive lifestyle choices that nourish mind, body, and spirit—like exercising, pursuing hobbies, getting therapy, connecting with others, or spending time outdoors—equips veterans in recovery with resilience, self-worth, and tools for coping with challenges in a healthy way.
- Drug Testing – Random urine screening offers an objective assessment of complete abstinence from substances. It also gives veterans external accountability motivation to remain clean long-term.
- Early Lapses – When veterans are recovering after rehab, having a minor slip-up with alcohol or drugs does not mean they are total failures. This is called an “early lapse.” Veterans must tell their counselors, doctors, or support groups if they have an early lapse.
Conclusion
Treating substance abuse in veterans needs a tailored approach that recognizes their unique experiences, like combat trauma, PTSD, and transitioning to civilian life. The effective therapies mentioned in this article aim to empower veterans to regain control of their lives by providing personalized care for their needs.
Overall, supporting veterans struggling with substance abuse requires understanding what they have been through and giving them the resources and treatment to fight their addictions. You can help them on the path to recovery with compassion and comprehensive care.
