Veterans and Substance Use Disorder
Many members of the military and veterans face unique challenges. Recovery should be led by professionals with education and experience in military culture. At Laurel Ridge, psychologists, nurses and therapists are specially trained to understand your needs. Many of our staff are veterans or come from military families themselves, giving them deep insight into your concerns.
Addiction recovery also depends heavily on group therapy. Laurel Ridge has military-only therapy groups. You are surrounded by people who understand and face similar challenges, such as:
- Denial regarding actions during military service
- Difficulty reintegrating into civilian life
- Ethical and moral dilemmas related to your service
- Military-related trauma, such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Sexual trauma
- Shame and survivor’s guilt
Military Substance Abuse Treatment at Laurel Ridge
When you contact Laurel Ridge for military substance abuse treatment or veteran substance abuse treatment, our caring staff conduct a no-cost, same-day assessment. We recommend a treatment plan to meet your goals. This often starts with detoxification, followed by a recovery program. Treatment lasts 7 to 10 days or up to 2 to 4 weeks , depending on your needs.
Laurel Ridge is a TRICARE® in-network medical facility. We meet stringent licensing and certification requirements and can accept this military health insurance. We also accept most other types of insurance and have flexible payment plans when needed.
Supervised Detox Services
Detoxification is often an essential first step to recovery. It’s important to detox under medical supervision, or it can be life-threatening. Our providers have extensive training and experience in detox. We use several medications and strategies to help clear the body of toxins and control withdrawal symptoms, such as:
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tremors (shakes)
- Seizures and hallucinations
Throughout treatment, we test daily for substance use. This helps your providers understand your progress or challenges so they can adjust your treatment plan. It also keeps you accountable.
Substance Use Disorder Treatments
Your providers include the program director, physicians, therapists and nurses. You also work with mental health technicians who assist with day-to-day tasks and an addictionologist, a psychologist who can address co-occurring substance and mental health disorders. Our staff help military and veterans develop the tools and skills to overcome addiction. This may include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you identify the ways you think, feel and behave. You then use that awareness to improve your thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) focuses on building a life worth living.
- Gorski-CENAPS Model of Recovery and Relapse Prevention helps diagnose and treat substance use disorders and co-occurring mental disorders. It focuses on relapse prevention.
- Educational sessions cover topics such as recognizing triggers, understanding warning signs for substance use and replacing substances with healthy coping strategies.
- Matrix model of addiction can help you maintain sobriety by tapping into the reasons you want to make a change.
- Motivational interviewing can help uncover the reasons behind substance use and increase your motivation to change those behaviors.
- Prolonged exposure therapy helps people with PTSD and substance abuse confront traumatic memories, feelings and situations.
- Seeking Safety helps people with trauma and substance use. It focuses on the underlying issue (trauma) and helps you learn healthy ways to deal with it, rather than using substances.
Peer support is an essential component of successful, long-term recovery. We offer group settings where peers share their challenges and successes and offer each other support:
- Alcoholics Anonymous® (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous® (NA), well-established 12-step programs
- SMART Recovery, which uses a secular, nonreligious approach
- Alum sessions, where we invite alums of our military recovery program to share their strategies for success
What to Expect During Rehab at Laurel Ridge
Laurel Ridge structures each day for success. Your schedule includes several therapy sessions:
- Individual therapy sessions twice a week, and family therapy if you choose
- Goals group, where you develop a personal sobriety plan and set goals
- Process group, when you share what you’ve learned and how you plan to incorporate it into your life
- Psychoeducation group, where you learn: signs of relapse, how to respond, the role of medications in recovery, the connection between mental health disorders and substance use and ways to manage persistent symptoms
- Relapse prevention planning, when you use a specially designed workbook to identify your triggers and warning signs and ways to react, so you are better prepared for discharge
Your day also includes:
- Dedicated time for hygiene in the morning and evening
- Downtime, including time in nature, smoke breaks, phone time, TV time and scheduled weekly visitation
- Social and fun activities, such as disc golf, games, music, exercise and holiday celebrations
- Vital signs, when staff each evening check indications of your overall health, such as blood pressure and heart rate
Learn more about Laurel Ridge’s facilities.
Returning to Life After Rehab
Our goal is for you to learn how to stay sober despite the challenges in your life and work. Before discharge, we help you develop a plan. This includes tools and healthy strategies to deal with stressors, including returning to military service.
Get Help Now
Contact us to discover how Laurel Ridge can help you heal.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, CALL 988 or seek the nearest emergency room. For physical health emergencies, CALL 911 or get to the nearest emergency room.
TRICARE® is a registered trademark of the Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency. All rights reserved.
Contact our admissions line for a No Cost Assessment
For all other inquiries contact: 210-491-9400