Alcohol Rehab for Veterans
In the realm of addiction, the substance of choice provides its own unique challenges for the addicted individual and those around them. Drinking is an extremely popular choice due to its widespread availability and common usage in social gatherings, celebrations, and the like. Alcohol rehab for veterans is a growing need for individuals who find themselves amidst such a dependency.
Despite strict policies set forth in 1986, alcohol is the most common substance that is abused among military veterans and personnel.1 Banyan’s Military and Veterans in Recovery program offers specialized treatment designed to get to the root of the cause and set forth the changes necessary to transform our patients' lives for the better.
PTSD and Alcohol
One of the most well-known facets of military service is the risk of developing PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Whether it’s due to witnessing combat, suffering an injury, or any other kind of trigger, the afflicted will experience severe anxiety, even after returning home.
Symptoms of PTSD include:
- Insomnia
- Experiencing flashbacks
- Emotional detachment
- Irritability
- Mistrust of loved ones
- Loss of pleasure in activities
For many veterans, these symptoms are an incredibly isolating experience, which commonly leads to the misuse of substances in order to feel some kind of relief. Co-occurring disorders such as this present a significant risk and can result in greater resistance to treatment.
The most popular choice of substance is alcohol, possibly due to its ability to trigger memory loss. For individuals haunted by their own memories, this presents a dangerous combination that commonly leads to dependence, addiction, and, sadly, more trauma.
Warning Signs of Alcoholism
It’s usually not hard to tell when someone is under the influence of alcohol. Their speech may be slurred, their balance might be thrown off, or they might have a look on their face like they are about to lose their lunch. Unfortunately, when this happens on a regular basis, a deeper issue is likely at play.
Common Signs of alcohol abuse include:
- Extreme mood swings
- Drinking in secrecy
- A drastic change in appearance
- Social Isolation
- Come up with excuses to drink, like to “feel normal”
- Choosing to drink over any other obligations
- Short-term memory loss
Whether it is to forget, to sleep, or just to feel whole again, relying on alcohol is a risky avenue that easily morphs into more dangerous situations. It can be extremely hard to break out of the cycles of trauma and addiction on one’s own. That’s where we come in.
Veterans and Alcohol Treatment
As these complex issues rage on, the need for alcohol rehab for veterans remains as present as ever. These are individuals who continue to feel the effects of their sacrifices on a physical and emotional level. No matter what stage of addiction they are in, dual diagnosis options are available to treat multiple disorders simultaneously and effectively.
Banyan’s military addiction treatment is available at various levels of care, giving patients options to tailor a recovery path most effective for their unique needs.
If you or a loved one is suffering from the effects of PTSD and alcoholism, contact Banyan’s veterans’ addiction treatment centers today.
Resources:
NCBI - Substance use disorders in military veterans: prevalence and treatment challenges
