If you're a veteran struggling with addiction, you have a multitude of treatment options available to aid in your recovery journey. In particular, inpatient rehab programs for veterans can be an invaluable resource. These programs provide a structured daily schedule that removes veterans from the stressors and triggers of everyday life, creating an environment conducive to recovery.

What To Look For in Veteran Rehab Programs

When searching for the right treatment program, consider these essential factors:

• Accreditation: It's crucial to choose accredited inpatient rehab programs that have met or exceeded rigorous quality standards. Accreditation ensures that the facility offers high-quality services.
• Qualified Staff: Select a facility with credentialed treatment staff, including psychologists, clinical social workers and physicians specializing in addiction treatment. While support staff may not always need credentials, the core treatment team overseeing your care should have the necessary education and licensure in addiction treatment.
• Dual Diagnosis Services: Look for inpatient rehab programs offering dual diagnosis services, which can address both addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders simultaneously. This is particularly vital for veterans, as research has shown that 55%–68% of veterans with symptoms of PTSD also have an alcohol addiction, highlighting the importance of dual diagnosis treatment.
• Therapy Options: Given the high prevalence of PTSD in veterans and its connection to addiction, seek out inpatient rehab programs that offer specialized therapies for PTSD treatment. Programs offering cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure therapy and EMDR have been found effective for treating PTSD.

Types of Veteran Inpatient Rehab Programs

Various types of veteran inpatient rehab programs exist. Some programs exclusively cater to veterans, allowing you to undergo treatment with peers who share similar experiences and challenges. Others may offer trauma-informed services to both veterans and non-veteran patients, fostering an inclusive environment.

Additionally, programs can vary in length. Short-term inpatient programs typically last 14-28 days, while longer-term options may extend up to three months. Veterans with severe addiction or those lacking supportive, safe housing in the community may benefit from longer-term inpatient care.

Finding Veteran-Centric Inpatient Rehab

Veterans seeking inpatient rehab programs benefit from facilities that provide veteran-centric care. This may involve programs exclusively for veterans or facilities that treat both veteran and non-veteran populations while offering programming tailored to the unique needs of veterans.

You can find veteran-centric inpatient care through the VA, which offers a wealth of resources for veterans struggling with substance abuse. The VA provides inpatient care, medical detox, medication-assisted treatment and outpatient services.

The Comprehensive Veteran Addiction Treatment Plan

Inpatient addiction rehab for veterans involves the development of a comprehensive treatment plan. This process begins with an assessment during which the treatment center's staff gather information about your medical history, addiction-related symptoms and other relevant details, including your history in the service, family background and living situation.

Following the assessment, the treatment team will craft a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses the specific concerns that led you to seek rehab. This plan will outline your goals and the services necessary to achieve them. Veterans may initiate their journey with medical detox to manage withdrawal symptoms, followed by other services like individual therapy, group therapy, support groups and medication management.

After completing their inpatient care, veterans should collaborate with their treatment team to develop an aftercare plan. This plan outlines the services that veterans will continue participating in upon returning home. For example, veterans may receive outpatient counseling services and attend support groups for relapse prevention.

Tailoring Treatment to Veterans' Needs

Addiction treatment plans should be tailored to the specific needs of veterans, taking into account their unique challenges, such as stress related to deployment, combat exposure and reintegration into civilian life. These challenges could contribute to addiction.

A Team Approach To Veteran Rehab

Quality veteran rehab programs employ a team approach to treatment, with multiple professionals working together to meet your needs. This team may include a doctor responsible for prescribing medication, a therapist who conducts individual sessions to address coping mechanisms and a case manager who coordinates your services. Think of these team members as similar to the various specialties within the military; they all work together toward the common goal of treating your addiction. 

Therapy That Works for Veterans

Veteran addiction programs typically offer a combination of individual and group therapy. Various trauma-informed approaches have been found to be effective for veterans:

• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): CPT is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that helps individuals identify negative thoughts related to trauma and replace them with healthier thought patterns over time.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR assists patients in reprocessing trauma by incorporating eye movements or hand taps while recalling traumatic memories, reducing psychological disruption caused by trauma.
• Prolonged Exposure (PE): PE requires patients to confront trauma memories in a safe clinical setting, helping them change their reactions to these memories. 

Peer Support in Veteran Rehab

Peer support groups play a central role in veteran addiction treatment. During these support group meetings, veterans can develop a sense of camaraderie and learn from peers who have faced similar challenges.

Using VA Health Insurance: The Community Care Network

At times, veterans may prefer to attend an inpatient rehab program that isn't associated with a VA medical facility. In such cases, veterans can access services through the Community Care Network (CCN) if they have VA health insurance. The VA will cover the cost of treatment as long as pre-authorization for services is obtained. 

Navigating the VA Community Care Process

When choosing VA CCN benefits for inpatient rehab, it's essential to follow the proper steps to ensure VA coverage for your treatment:

• Discuss with your VA doctor to initiate the "consult creation and review" process, where your doctor refers you to the inpatient treatment center. This consult request is sent to the Community Care department for review.
• Once the Community Care department approves your consult, they will contact you and reach out to the inpatient treatment provider to ensure they are in-network. They will also schedule your initial appointment.
• The VA will authorize your appointment and provide you with a letter detailing the approved length of care and the types of treatment you can receive.
• You can begin your treatment and continue care for the authorized duration. If you need care beyond the initial approval, you'll require re-authorization. 

Finding Nearby Veteran Inpatient Rehab: 10 Questions To Ask

When seeking quality veteran addiction treatment, consider asking these ten questions before selecting an inpatient facility:

• Do you accept VA insurance?
• What is the duration of your program?
• What therapy services do you provide?
• Do you offer veteran-specific treatment?
• Does your facility exclusively treat veterans, or do you admit non-veterans as well?
• What trauma-informed services are available?
• Do you have an on-site medical detox program?
• Is your facility accredited?
• What professionals will be part of my treatment team?
• If non-veterans are in your program, will they participate in my support groups?

Gathering answers to these questions will assist you in determining whether a specific treatment program aligns with your needs and preferences. Programs that accept your insurance, provide veteran-specific treatment and offer trauma-informed services are typically well-suited to veterans. Additionally, insights into the composition of your treatment team and the program's duration will further aid in making an informed choice.

FORTITUDE: A Specialty Rehab Track for Veterans and First Responders

Veteran-centric inpatient rehab programs offer specialized treatment tailored to the unique needs of veterans. At The Recovery Village, we proudly offer the FORTITUDE program, specifically designed to provide addiction treatment services to veterans and first responders.

Our licensed staff is well-versed in trauma-informed therapies, including EMDR. We also facilitate exclusive peer support groups for veterans and first responders. Additionally, we provide co-occurring disorders treatment to address mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and PTSD, which can often accompany addiction.