Louisville, Kentucky Rehab Recovery Center for Veterans

Statistics of Veterans and Addiction

Coming home at the end of your service is something that many veterans and family members look forward to. This is a period of adjustments and may prove challenging. Organizations and various agencies have tried to increase addiction support and resources for veterans. However, there is still a considerable presence of veterans struggling with addiction.

We have seen that veterans who struggle with addiction are at a higher risk for co-occurring mental health disorders, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. These veterans are also more likely to have difficulty maintaining a job, struggle socially, and have suicidal ideation.

Recent research estimates that approximately 14% of veterans struggle with depression, 9.9% struggle with anxiety, and an estimated range of 8-35% of veterans struggle with PTSD. The rates of PTSD are higher among veterans than the general population.

An estimated 30% of individuals who completed suicide within the military community used drugs or alcohol beforehand. An estimated 20% of high-risk behavior death within the military community were linked to alcohol or drug overdose.

Research has shown that the most common substance abused by veterans is alcohol. Similar to the general public, we see more men struggling with alcohol and drug addiction compared to female veterans. An estimated 10.5% of male veterans struggle with alcohol use disorder, and 4.8% struggle with drug addiction. For females, we are seeing 4.8% struggle with alcohol use disorder and 2.4% struggle with drug addiction. Rates among younger veterans, ages 18-25, are higher than the rates we see for older veterans.

We are seeing a rise in the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs among veterans. Opioids have been prescribed for veterans to help with headaches and chronic pain symptoms. There was an increase in the number of opioids prescribed from 17% to 24% within the VA care system from 2001 to 2009. Veterans who have mental health concerns such as, anxiety, depression, or PTSD are more likely to misuse and abuse prescribed opioids.

When we look at the use of illicit drugs among veterans, we are seeing marijuana as the most commonly used drug. The prevalence of marijuana use decreased significantly in the early 2000s.

Specific factors that increase a veteran’s risk of developing an alcohol or drug addiction include deployment, combat exposure, and difficulty returning home after deployment. Other factors that increase the risk would be a history of trauma and abuse that occurred before joining the military.

Addiction Treatment Therapy for Veterans​

If you find yourself on the fence about whether or not you should talk to a professional about your alcohol or drug use, try answering these three questions:

Have you ever felt that you should cut down on your drinking or drug use?

Have you felt annoyed by others criticizing your drinking or drug use?

Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking or drug use? 

Have you needed to drink or use it in the morning to end a hangover?

If you have two “yes” answers, then you should talk to a professional about your drinking or drug use. Even if you are on the fence and have only one “yes,” your initial concern is coming from somewhere, and talking to someone couldn’t hurt.

When it comes to addiction treatment, there are behavioral approaches that have been proven to be effective. There are some medications that can aid in a person’s recovery based on which substances are being abused. Additional options for sober support would be self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, which have groups around the world.

Treatment using behavioral therapy approaches can occur in various levels of care. These can include medical detox, inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, outpatient, and aftercare treatment groups. 

When you meet with an Addiction Professional, they will complete an assessment that will help them determine which level of care best meets your needs. Substance abuse disorders are rated using mild, moderate, and severe categories. We encourage you to ask questions throughout this process and stay as informed about your care as possible. 

There are several barriers that we have seen when it comes to veterans getting the help they need for their addiction. The first of which would be the ability to access care. The VA estimates that approximately 41% of all veterans live in rural areas, making it challenging to access mental health treatment. Virtual therapies have been used in efforts to bridge this gap. 

With the rise of addiction among female veterans, we are seeing that women are hesitant to get treatment. Research has shown that female veterans have higher rates of domestic violence. Women report being embarrassed about their addiction and have noted this to be a barrier to getting help. 

The stigma associated with addiction and treatment is also a barrier veterans encounter. A potential change that could help with this is having addiction treatment in a location that is known as a mental health treatment program, so there is still some confidentiality associated with what they are getting help with. 

What to Expect From Our Veteran Drug Rehab Center in Kentucky

Here at Impact IOP, we work with veterans regarding their addiction to both drugs and alcohol. We have a variety of different programs we can start with, so we are able to help you no matter where you are in your recovery journey.

Many individuals require a medical detox and then benefit from inpatient treatment. We also have a partial hospitalization program as well. Using a holistic approach, we are able to address any mental health concerns that you may be struggling with as well.

We use a variety of behavioral therapy approaches that have been proven to be effective in the treatment of addiction and mental health concerns. This helps us meet you where you are and work together to address your specific concerns.

Re-Start Your Life at Our Veteran Rehab Facility

At Impact IOP, we meet with you and determine the best course of action for you. 

We offer a medical detox program. This is ideal for individuals who need to detox from alcohol and benzodiazepines. 

Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) would be altered to adjust any special considerations you may have. IOP can range from 15-25 hours of group therapy and one hour of individual therapy, depending on your needs. We are open six days a week, so we can fit this around your schedule.

Our Outpatient treatment is the ideal step after our IOP program. We offer both group and individual therapy on an outpatient basis. We would be able to continue addressing any mental health concerns that you began working on while in our inpatient and IOP programs.

After completing our outpatient program, we offer an After Care program that gives you a place to come check in with challenges you have encountered when returning home. This treatment program is less intense than the previous options, which is why it’s a good fit for most individuals who return to work.

Lastly, we offer a Family Program which is intended for your loved ones. This program helps your loved ones learn about addiction and recovery. It helps provide some context on how they can best support you in your recovery as well as help themselves with the challenges they experienced regarding your addiction. 

If you are concerned about your own alcohol and drug use, or a loved one’s use, we invite you to call us at (502) 912-1038. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs and see where we can help you.