Rehab For Veterans In Lexington, KY

Substance abuse can take hold of anyone, however, these odds are increased when it comes to veterans. In many cases, veterans have experienced tremendous amounts of trauma during their service. As a result, this trauma can often lead veterans to turn to substances like drugs and alcohol to cope with the various traumas they have experienced. 

These traumas can be a result of life-changing injuries, the death of comrades, and seeing a lot of death in general. Here at the Lexington Addiction Center, we offer rehab for veterans in Lexington, Kentucky. We are a veterans’ addiction treatment center. We understand the complex treatment needs of veterans. 

Common Addictions for Veterans

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “More than one in ten veterans have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder, slightly higher than the general population.” This is because veterans are exposed to a great deal of stress during their service; they put their lives on the line and in many cases are in combat.  whereas the average civilian is typically not exposed to the same stressors. These stress factors cause veterans to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol to cope with the mental health issues they have sustained during their service.

Alcohol 

Alcohol is the substance of choice for many veterans in fact alcohol has been known to be a large aspect of military culture what can start out as a lot of drinking with buddies can easily turn into a substance abuse issue alcohol addiction can extend beyond an individual’s time in the military in many cases veterans often continue their addiction as they return to civilian life this is because it can be difficult for veterans to reintegrate themselves back into society.

Veterans who abuse alcohol tend to be more likely to: 

• Have a shorter lifespan 
• More likely to be violent  
• Be less healthy than those who don’t drink

Drugs

While opioid addiction is less common in veterans, vets are still at risk for opioid addiction. There are a few factors that contribute to this. Opioids are highly addictive, in addition, many vets are prescribed painkillers for the injuries they have obtained during their service. Veterans are also prescribed painkillers for their mental health disorders. This coupled with the traumas they have experienced can lead veterans to become addicted to prescription drugs. 

Mental Health Disorders 

Unfortunately, many veterans also deal with a dual diagnosis of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. A co-occurring mental health disorder is when someone is dealing with a mental health disorder such as anxiety or depression along with a substance use disorder such as addiction to drugs or alcohol. That is why our rehab for veterans in Lexington, Kentucky, offers dual-diagnosis treatment.

As aforementioned, vets can use substances as a way to self-medicate their mental health disorders. Here are some common mental health disorders that veterans face:

Depression 

Depression is quite common in the United States in general. Depression can cause:

• Sadness
• Loss of interest in activities a person once enjoyed
• Social withdrawal
• Fatigue 
• Hopelessness 
• Suicide

Millions of people in America have depression. In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. In 2020, NIMH estimated that 21.0 million adults 18 or older in the US have had at least one major depressive episode in the past year.

However, veterans are more likely than non-veterans to have depression and anxiety. The VA estimates about one in three veterans that visit primary care clinics have symptoms of depression, and one in eight to ten veterans have major depression that requires treatment with therapy and antidepressants. This is a result of the unique traumas and experiences that veterans have. 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a disorder in which people experience high levels of stress anxiety and depression following an extremely traumatic event(s).  In many cases, a person with PTSD relives the traumatic moment that they experienced. They can relive these moments in their dreams or become triggered and reminded of the experiences in their day-to-day lives.

 This can cause these individuals to avoid people, places, and things that remind them of their trauma. As a result, people with PTSD can often deal with shame and embarrassment. This can also lead them to turn to substances to help cope with their symptoms of PTSD. According to the US Department of Veteran Affairs, more than two in ten veterans with PTSD end up with at least one substance addiction.

What Does Rehab for Veterans in Lexington, KY Look Like?

Rehab for veteran veterans can be beneficial in the form of a partial hospitalization program (PHP). PHP is a type of outpatient program that is effective in treating addiction. This program offers patients a high level of support without the requirement of residing in an inpatient facility.  

Patients can stay at home while attending PHP. This program offers services and support through medical and clinical aspects of care. Patients receive treatment for around five to seven days a week and patients have access to peer support groups and therapy. Here at the Lexington Addiction Center, we offer a PHP program with the following services:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy 
• Dialectical behavior therapy 
• Family therapy 
• Trauma therapy 
• Holistic therapy 

Our partial hospitalization program offers physical treatments for addiction as well as treatments for mental health. That will help patients address the issues that led them to addiction.

TRICARE Addiction Treatment

TRICARE is a healthcare program for the US Military. This Healthcare program is government managed. TRICARE covers addiction treatment for veterans. It is important to note that the services covered by TRICARE depend on the individual’s healthcare plan.

TRICARE typically covers the following:

• Opioid treatment programs 
• Detox Services 
• Inpatient services 
• Intensive outpatient programs 
• Partial hospitalization treatment 
• Residential addiction treatment 
• In-office opioid treatment 

Veterans Addiction Treatment Center Near You

Are you a veteran? Do you have a loved one who is a veteran that is battling mental health disorders and substance use issues? At Lexington Addiction Center, we understand the complex needs that veterans have as far as addiction treatment. In addition, we offer rehab for veterans in Lexington, Kentucky, and we provide TRICARE addiction treatment. 

Recovery can be an overwhelming and isolating journey. You do not have to go through this journey alone. Lexington Addiction Center is happy to provide you with specialized services to help you obtain and maintain your recovery. Contact us today to start your treatment journey.