Alcohol Rehab for Veterans: How it Works

Substance abuse among veterans isn’t just a relic of the Vietnam era. According to the VA, approximately 1 in 10 veterans returning from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have a problem with drugs or alcohol. In particular, the VA reports, those vets have a tendency to binge drink. If you or a loved one has a problem with drinking, you deserve help. Alcohol use disorder and drug use in vets is often just the outward symptom of deeper emotional wounds and mental health difficulties — all of which can be successfully treated in alcohol rehab for veterans.

The VA & Alcohol Rehab

When any veteran is experiencing a mental or physical health issue, the VA is often their first stop. Indeed, veterans struggling with alcohol abuse can see their primary care physician through the VA in order to undergo a screening for alcohol use disorder. Depending on the outcome, the doctor can recommend intensive outpatient treatment, PHP, or even residential addiction treatment through the VA. 

However, as any veteran knows — and as the VA itself has admitted — the VA is often plagued by delays, difficulties, and hassle. When you’re struggling with drinking, the smallest task can feel impossible to take on. So, how are you supposed to face off with the VA in that condition? If you need help with your drinking and you don’t want to deal with the VA, private residential addiction treatment for veterans is an option.

Alcohol Detox for Veterans

First, many people who abuse alcohol need a professional medical detox in order to get clean. Attempting to detox from alcohol on your own is uncomfortable and incredibly dangerous. In fact, it’s even more dangerous to detox from alcohol alone than it is to detox from heroin, cocaine, or “harder” drugs. Detoxing from alcohol without medical support can cause seizures, heart attacks, coma, or even death. If you have been drinking enough that you experience any form of withdrawal in between drinks — i.e., headaches, shakes, or irritability — you should consider a professional medical detox. At Holland Pathways, we have a dedicated drug and alcohol detox facility on site in Wichita. That way, you can integrate into the community from the start, and transition seamlessly from detox to alcohol rehab for veterans when you are ready.

Alcohol Rehab for Veterans

Alcohol rehab for veterans is designed to heal the underlying emotional wounds and mental health difficulties that drive you to drink. At the same time, you’ll learn skills and tools to help you stay healthy and sober in the future. From day one, our clinical team will work with you to develop a treatment plan customized to your needs and goals. Each day will include a variety of treatments and activities — all designed to help you heal. Your meals, lodging, and medical care will be provided for you 24/6 as you undergo one-on-one counseling, group therapy with other veterans, and innovative treatments like EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) to help with PTSD and depression. Through it all, our team will work with you to plan for what comes next. Our aftercare programming will help you find a sober living, enroll in IOP, explore 12 Step meetings, or do anything you may need in order to prepare for a successful life post-treatment.

Get Help for an Alcoholic Vet

Are you ready to start walking the path out of addiction? We’re here to walk alongside you. Call our caring team today to learn more about paying for treatment as a veteran, and what else to expect when you join our Wichita community. We can’t wait to meet you, and to help you start a new life.