Veterans face many challenges a civilian may never encounter. In serving their country, they often undergo extremely stressful situations that leave them feeling traumatized, such as witnessing a friend’s death or experiencing a sexual assault. Rates of PTSD are high among military veterans, especially those who have served in combat.
Some people living with PTSD turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with debilitating symptoms like nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts and mood swings. As a result, substance abuse is also a genuine problem among former servicemembers, with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reporting that more than two of 10 veterans with PTSD also have a co-occurring substance use disorder.
Sadly, military families are also vulnerable to issues with their mental health and addiction, due to the sacrifices inherent to having a loved one in the armed forces. With Veterans Day around the corner, consider exploring substance abuse treatment for yourself or a family member.
Benefits of Substance Abuse Treatment for Servicemembers and Their Dependents
If you’re a veteran seeking recovery, or you’re close to a vet who needs treatment, mental health professionals and addiction treatment specialists can provide:
- Medications and individual therapy to address anxiety, depression or PTSD.
- Coping skills to help you deal with common life stressors.
- Training in how to handle relapse triggers.
- Family counseling to help repair damaged relationships.
- Connections to community recovery groups like Alcoholics Anonymous.
The Evolution of a Substance Abuse Disorder
Being far away from loved ones and living in life-or-death circumstances can be extremely stressful. Drugs and alcohol temporarily numb the pain and anxiety and induce feelings of calm or euphoria, which may seem appealing at first.
However, the more often someone drinks or uses, the more they increase their likelihood of falling into the trap of addiction. Chronic drinking and drug use creates a physical dependency. The brain and body begin to expect the substance and to feel “off” without it. Being intoxicated seems normal.
At the same time, physical tolerance begins to develop. It takes increasingly higher doses to provide the same effects. Eventually, when you try to stop using, you’ll experience a range of unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that drive you back to your substance of use, perpetuating the cycle.
Using TRICARE to Cover Your Treatment Costs
At Canyon Crossing, we believe the cost of long-term inpatient or outpatient treatment shouldn’t be a barrier to anyone. That’s why we accept insurance from TRICARE for current or former members of the U.S. armed forces.
TRICARE, previously called the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services, is the supplemental health care program for active-duty and retired military service members and their families. Understanding that current and former military members are especially susceptible to addiction and co-occurring mental health issues, TRICARE recently expanded their mental health benefits to include drug and alcohol rehab. If you have TRICARE coverage and would like to explore your treatment options for women’s-only addiction treatment in Arizona, please reach out to us today.
