Our Massachusetts treatment center understands how prevalent addiction is among veterans. Many individuals who have returned from being deployed have turned to alcohol and drugs to cope with the trauma and mental hardships they’ve experienced. Those who have fought for our country are among those individuals whose mental health suffers most greatly as a result. Our Massachusetts addiction treatment for veterans at Clearbrook is meant to aid veterans and their families in recovering from the physical and mental impact of addiction.
Veterans and Substance Abuse
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), along with prescription drug abuse and alcoholism, are common types of addiction in veterans. Many veterans have been exposed to trauma, such as combat exposure and multiple deployments, which can trigger drug or alcohol use as a coping mechanism. Once referred to as “shellshock” and “battle fatigue,” PTSD symptoms such as flashbacks of the event, memory problems, hopelessness, and insomnia often drive sufferers to unhealthy coping behaviors.
In addition to PTSD, many veterans will simultaneously suffer from some form of addiction, otherwise referred to as a co-occurring disorder. Veterans with PTSD have often been prescribed anxiety medications like benzodiazepines, which are highly addictive. Many of these individuals also struggle with severe and/or chronic pain and may be prescribed strong – and addictive – medications like opioids to cope.
Common medications prescribed to veterans include:
- Prescription Opioids (Lortab, Vicodin, OxyContin)
- Benzodiazepines (Ativan, Valium, Xanax)
- Sedatives (Ambien, Lunesta)
In addition to prescription medication, alcoholism in veterans is also common. While some servicemembers may avoid using illicit drugs in the military because it can result in a dishonorable discharge, drinking is ingrained in military culture and is carried into civilian life. Therefore, all too often, veterans and service members self-medicate with alcohol to the point where they succumb to addiction.
Veterans taking drugs and alcohol often become dependent on them, meaning they exhibit tolerance to their effects and show symptoms of withdrawal when they attempt to quit or cut down their use. As time passes, veterans with drug dependence may spiral into an addiction, which is characterized by drug-seeking behavior and an inability to stop.
Fortunately, there are services out there designed to help veterans overcome their addictions and regain their health. Our Massachusetts veterans addiction treatment center offers medical detox, inpatient care, and more to support you or a loved one through recovery.
Benefits of Drug Treatment for Veterans
Our Massachusetts drug rehab for veterans offers addiction treatment specifically designed to each veteran’s needs. However, we know that the impact of substance abuse isn’t limited to the individual, which is why our program also incorporates support for our patients’ loved ones.
Benefits of our addiction treatment for veterans include:
- A calm place to recover
- A safe escape from temptations
- Addiction counseling
- Assistance in transitioning back into society
- Education about addiction and mental health
- Individual and group therapy options
- Life skills training
- Peer support through group therapy
- Relapse prevention training
- Supervised outdoor activities
Our Massachusetts Veterans Substance Abuse Treatment
Many veterans struggle with substance use problems. Not only is our Northeast addictions treatment center striving to help as many veterans recover from addiction as possible, but we also hope to reduce stigma through our efforts. On this note, below is more on our Massachusetts addiction treatment for veterans.
Medical Detox
The first step for patients in our veterans’ rehab program is usually medically assisted detox. This is a form of treatment in which patients are weaned off of drugs or alcohol under medical supervision to ensure their health and safety. Drug withdrawal symptoms occur when a person who’s addicted to drugs or alcohol quits suddenly or significantly reduces the amount they take.
When unmonitored or when detox is attempted at home, these symptoms can be dangerous and even life-threatening. Not only do our detox programs help patients safely withdraw from drugs, but they also help them better manage their cravings. What’s more, our Massachusetts inpatient drug rehab is only one of several veterans detox centers in the Clearbrook family, so you and your loved one have plenty of options.
Residential Treatment
Our residential treatment program is a form of inpatient drug treatment that requires patients to live onsite. This form of treatment separates patients from any temptations or people in their day-to-day lives that may have aided or contributed to their addiction. This program is designed to help patients recover from their disorders without the interruption of any distractions. Residential care is best suited for individuals with severe drug use disorders who require medical detox and continuous care to achieve physical and mental stability.
Substance-Specific Addiction Treatment
Our substance abuse treatment in Veterans in Recovery also includes individualized treatment programs for substances like:
- Alcohol
- Bath Salts (synthetic cathinones)
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Marijuana
- Meth
- Opiates
- Prescriptions Drugs
- Synthetic Marijuana
Out of the many forms of addiction among veterans, prescription drug abuse is the most common. Veterans who receive the help of our Massachusetts substance abuse treatment can overcome the physical and psychological challenges of addiction and learn how to stay sober for the long haul.
Faith-Based Addiction Treatment
Along the recovery journey, we also offer Christ-centered, faith-based programming for patients interested in a spiritual approach to recovery. With 12-step meetings and other programs often encouraging clients to surrender to a Higher Power, achieving spiritual recovery can be tough without guidance. In our Faith in Recovery program, we guide clients through the restoration, or establishment, of their faith and help them create a relationship with God to aid them in their recovery.
Family Program
Our rehab in Massachusetts is committed to creating a safe space for our veterans as well as their loved ones. We know that substance abuse impacts the individual on a larger scale, often breaking relationships and damaging the family dynamic. Our family program offers support for the loved ones of addicts in recovery, including individual and group therapy sessions, to promote healing within the family as a whole.
Unique Addiction Therapy Programs
Our addiction treatment specialists understand that substance use disorders are as much mental as they are physical. Oftentimes, it’s veterans’ mental health struggles that lead them to use drugs and alcohol. To better help the servicemen and women in our care, we offer various methods of drug therapy, including:
- Art Therapy
- Biofeedback
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
- A Corporate Recovery Program
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Gender-Specific Addiction Treatment
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Relapse Prevention Program
- And more
Alumni Program
Once veterans have completed at least one of our programs, they then have the option to join our alumni program. As you may have guessed, this program is designed to help individuals who have “graduated” from one of our levels of substance abuse treatment and wish to receive additional help for relapse prevention. Alumni in this program will have the benefit of meeting other people in the recovery community and making connections that will assist their sobriety.
Finding a Rehab for Veterans Near Me
At Clearbrook Treatment Centers, we offer and design specific programs for those who have served our country. We know that the trauma veterans experience and witness during deployment isn’t easy on the mind and can contribute to harmful coping methods.
If you are a veteran or know of one in need of help recovering from substance abuse, contact us today to learn more about Massachusetts addiction treatment for veterans.
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