Addiction Treatment for Military Members

Mental Health Disorders, Substance Abuse, and the Military

Among veterans and active-duty military personnel, substance abuse is a growing problem. As soldiers return home from deployment, many suffer physical and mental health issues including injury, combat stress, and trauma. These issues are often the direct result of their experiences overseas.

Because of their experiences, this population finds itself living with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), and other mental health disorders. These mental health disorders can be dangerous, even fatal. One study published by the American Journal of Public Health found that suicide rates across all U.S. military services rose between 2005 and 2007, particularly for members of the Army and National Guard.

Short of suicide, many mental health disorders render veterans and active-duty military servicemembers vulnerable to alcoholism and substance use disorder.

Suicide Incidence and Risk Factors in an Active Duty U.S. Military Population, a study of almost 600 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan found that 39 percent of veterans screened positive for probable alcohol abuse. Three percent of this same population tested positive for probable illicit drug use, while 14 percent tested positive for PTSD.

Binge drinking has long existed in military culture, but deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan have seen a spike in reported rates of consumption that shows little sign of decreasing.

In 2007, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published the results of an assessment on mental health problems of more than 88,000 combat veterans taken with six months of their return home. It showed that between 12 and 15 percent tested positive for alcohol problems.

Meanwhile, the rise of opioid addiction in the military has been increasing. From 2001 to 2009, the rate of veterans in the Veterans Affairs healthcare system receiving prescriptions for an opioid like oxycodone or codeine increased from 17 percent to 24 percent. The risk factors of substance abuse involve a range of biological, psychological, economic, and sociocultural issues. These factors can include a greater tendency toward suicide, family problems, and physical health problems.

JourneyPure Lexington Can Help

JourneyPure is focused on providing military active duty, veterans, and their family members with quality addiction and mental health treatment. When enrolled with JourneyPure, clients are provided with the tools needed to achieve and maintain sobriety and wellness.

At JourneyPure Lexington, veterans and active duty military can benefit from all the same treatment options offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, including:

• Individual and family counseling
• Group therapy
• Trauma-specific treatment
• Medications for withdrawal symptoms
• Recreation therapy

Our Dual-Diagnosis Treatment

It is not uncommon for patients suffering from a substance use disorder to also experience a mental health issue like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or PTSD. This dynamic is known as a “co-occurring disorder” and can be treated with what medical practitioners call “dual-diagnosis” treatment.

Studies suggest that people with mental health disorders are far more likely to abuse substances in order to cope. According to current census data, there are at least 9 million Americans who abuse alcohol or drugs that live with an undiagnosed mental health disorder. Unfortunately, only about 7 percent of this population receives the dual-diagnosis treatment they need.

JourneyPure’s dual diagnosis treatment provides integrated services to address both addiction and mental health disorders at the same time. Research shows this to be a more effective approach than when only one end of the mental health spectrum is addressed.

JourneyPure Lexington’s treatment programs are accredited by the Joint Commission and CARF as a rehabilitation facility, providing clients with the assurance that the care they receive is in keeping with the highest treatment standards.

When a client is brought in to the JourneyPure family, he or she is provided with an individualized treatment plan designed to meet his or her unique needs. With a small staff-to-patient ratio and passionate commitment to recovery, the JourneyPure approach provides patients with the tools needed for long-term success.