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Addiction Treatment for Veterans

Military and Veteran Drug Rehab Program in Florida

Service members of the United States military will often experience difficulty transitioning to civilian life once they have been discharged. Veterans who have been in combat will have witnessed or experienced several traumatic events such as sustaining a life-altering injury or watching a friend or colleague die. Veterans can develop PTSD symptoms that include anxiety, panic, and depression; and will often try to manage these symptoms by taking drugs.

Detox

Start the recovery process. Rid your body of toxins and become free from your dependency on drugs and alcohol.

Residential Rehab

Get to the heart of your addiction. Learn coping skills to help you overcome cravings and learn to live a sober life.

Outpatient Rehab

Maintain your sober support system while you take a step back into your obligations at work and at home. Continue the recovery process.

Increased Rate of Substance Abuse

Using drugs as a coping mechanism can be extremely harmful, and can increase the risk of developing an addiction. This can quickly develop into a co-occurring disorder and become difficult to recover from. Veteran drug rehab is a valued source for former military members to help overcome their PTSD and dependency on drugs.

Some studies show an increase in veteran substance abuse due to being prescribed opioids or other drugs to help with pain management or mental health issues. 2 out of 10 veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder will also be diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD).

Without careful monitoring of drug intake, there is a high risk of developing an addiction. Rather than being adequately weaned off the drug, addicts will turn to illicit drug use when they are no longer able to get a prescription. According to a government report, 10.7 percent of veterans admitted to an addiction treatment center were due to heroin abuse; 6 percent were admitted because of cocaine.

 
drug rehab for veterans
 

The increase in substance abuse can cause severe repercussions for veterans and their families. It is not only risking a co-occurring disorder but also causing tension in the home, vocational impairment, inability to socialize, or building healthy relationships, overdoses, and suicide.

 

Suicide Risks

The Department of Defense (DOD) has stated that between 2011 and 2014, there was an 18perscent increase in suicides. Research has shown that deployed military personnel are less likely to commit suicide than military veterans. With access to mental health services and substance abuse treatment so limited, veterans are more likely to display suicidal tendencies.

Signs of suicidal behavior could include:

  • Feelings of Hopelessness
  • Insomnia
  • Extreme sadness or depressive moods
  • Withdrawal from family and friends
  • Talking about suicide
  • Threatening self-harm
  • Putting affairs in order

Veterans With PTSD & SUD

Veterans have a high rate of post-traumatic stress disorder, especially for those who experienced combat. Shock is a normal reaction to a traumatic event; however, when the nervous system becomes stuck with immobilization. The two automatic reactions of a nervous system during a dangerous or stressful situation are:

Mobilization

A fight-or-flight response, the body is filled with adrenaline and will have an intense desire to defend itself or hide from the danger. Once the threat has passed, the adrenaline will slowly drain away, and the nervous system works on calming the body.

Immobilization

Happens when the nervous system has experienced stress or fear too many times and remains hypervigilant even after the danger has passed. Ther nervous system cannot return the body to its normal state and keeps the mind from moving on from the trauma that has passed. Immobilization is the reaction the is associated with PTSD.

Other underlying mental health issues can worsen PTSD and contribute to a substance use disorder. Alcohol and drug use are common for veterans as they tend to have difficulty coping in society after deployment. Using medically prescribed marijuana or CBD to help manage pain or mental health issues can be beneficial. However, if illicit drugs are used to avoid the remembered trauma or relieve pain, addiction is likely to develop.

Co-occurring disorders develop when mental illness causes drug or alcohol abuse as a way of self-medicating and a dependence on that substance is formed, or vice versa. For a military service member, substance use disorders tend to occur because of their PTSD from active duty.

Veterans With PTSD & SUD

Veterans have a high rate of post-traumatic stress disorder, especially for those who experienced combat. Shock is a normal reaction to a traumatic event; however, when the nervous system becomes stuck with immobilization. The two automatic reactions of a nervous system during a dangerous or stressful situation are:

 

Joint Commission Accredited

Dr. Paul By The Sea is fully credentialed and licensed in the state of Florida by the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO). JCAHO is unanimously considered the gold standard of addiction treatment by industry professionals. Knowing that the facility has obtained this certification should be a top priority for individuals to look at when researching to find the right inpatient or outpatient treatment facility for them. 

We dedicate our facilities and treatment methods to ensuring that we provide the best available recovery options while maintaining professional levels of care. Please contact us today and hear how our caring staff of experts use their experience to implement evidence-based treatments to make sure each of our patients receives the most effective treatment regimens.

 
 

PTSD Symptoms

There is no time limit on when PTSD symptoms can occur; they could appear within hours or days of the event or years later. While there can be a range of congruent symptoms with post-traumatic stress, four are almost always present:

 

Reccurent Reminders

When the person is continuously reminded of the event and plagued by thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks that trick the mind into thinking the event will happen again. Physical reactions include panic attacks, uncontrollable shaking, high blood pressure, and increased heart rate.

 
 
 

Extreme Avoidance

People with PTSD will want to avoid anything that could trigger a memory of the event. This could be anything and will often cause a withdrawal from friends, family, and social events.

 

Negative Mood Changes

Thoughts and moods can change drastically to become negative or false beliefs about the world or the person themself. There will often be feelings of fear, shame, or guilt.

 
 
 

Constantly on Guard

PTSD usually causes the person to be hypervigilant and emotionally reactive. Such as exhibiting angry and irritable behavior or trouble with sleeping and concentrating.

 

Tricare & TriWest Insurance Accepted

Dr. Paul’s By The Sea is proud to provide service to the men and women in our military forces. We thank you and accept Tricare insurance, allowing us to provide high-quality health resources to active-duty and veteran service members.

Our rehab center near the city of Jacksonville provides substance use disorder and mental health treatments for these service members and their families.   

 
 

Helping Veterans & Their Families

It is not only veterans who suffer from their addiction and substance use; the damaging effects of the drugs also impact their families. The user can become violent towards others and themselves, and without treatment, the behavior could worsen over time. By getting help at a qualified addiction center specializing in veteran care, the entire family can be involved in the treatment process.

Family support is crucial during recovery, and addiction rehabs will often provide family counseling and allow families to come and visit their loved ones at the rehab facility. During counseling, families can learn the signs of addiction and symptoms of PTSD in case of recurrence. Once the person in treatment begins to recover and learn how to manage their symptoms without using drugs, they can start to live a healthy and fulfilling life with the people they love.

Seeking Treatmet

Veterans need and deserve the best type of substance abuse treatment that can be offered. A rehab can treat their addiction and the underlying causes. While the department of veterans affairs offers programs and support, some veterans would instead not turn to the VA for help.

 

At Dr. Paul’s By The Sea, we offer treatment and therapies specifically designed for veterans. We provide a safe place for veterans to learn healthy coping mechanisms that will be useful in managing their PTSD symptoms without the need for drug use. Our counselors are trained in treating trauma and can help veterans work through the anxiety and panic caused by post-traumatic stress.

At our St. Augustine rehab, we accept TriCare and TriWest insurance allowing us to provide you or a loved one with the best healthcare available. If you or a loved one need help, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Paul’s By The Sea.

 

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