If you’re a veteran struggling with alcohol or you know someone who is, you are not alone. Not only do vets suffer from addiction at higher rates than the general public; but also, one survey found that out of all the professions in the US, members of the military were the heaviest drinkers. Alcoholism in veterans is a serious problem, but there is help if you want it. If you’re ready to try a new direction, here’s what to expect from alcohol rehab for veterans.
Alcohol is sold right alongside your breakfast cereal, but it’s one of the most dangerous and destructive drugs that there is. Because of how pervasive alcohol is in our society, it can be hard to tell when you have crossed the line from “normal” consumption to a serious problem. It’s not as easy as counting the beer cans in the recycle bin at the end of a long weekend, and it’s often not as clear as a DUI or similarly drastic “rock bottom.”
It’s time to quit drinking when it’s having a negative effect on your life. Many people can have a glass of wine with dinner and carry on with their life. For others, some in recovery joke, “it only takes one drink to break out in handcuffs.” If your job, relationships, health, finances, or emotions aren’t in the best shape these days, alcohol could be to blame. If you know that and you can’t stop drinking, you probably need help.
Luckily, treatment for alcohol use disorder has never been more accessible or more effective. Recovery is possible for anyone, if you are willing to try a new road in life.
Going “cold turkey” off drinking isn’t a feat of will power. It’s dangerous. Over the years, alcohol becomes practically a native substance in your body as your systems adapt to work around its effects. When you remove alcohol from your system suddenly, the body goes into shock. That can cause heart attack, coma, or even death if not medically treated. In addition, the sweats, shakes, and nausea of even the mildest withdrawal could push you to pick up a drink again and send you right back where you started.
For that reason, when you’re ready to quit drinking it’s best to call the professionals. Not only will they help you get through your early recovery as safely and comfortably as possible; but also, they’ll give you the support and the tools to hang on to ever sober day with everything you’ve got.
Residential addiction treatment for veterans is the best way to focus on your substance use disorder and the underlying reasons for the drinking. Of course, veterans have special needs when it comes to trauma and co-occurring disorders like PTSD. That’s why at Country Road we are so proud to offer alcohol rehab for veterans, developed specifically for this underserved community.
Innovative treatments like EMDR (eye movement deprogramming and reprocessing), talk therapy, and prescribed medication have all been proven to be effective for veterans struggling for PTSD, for example. At Country Road, every client gets a customized addiction treatment plan developed by our expert team to help them heal the underlying wounds – so they can stop self-medicating and start living life free in recovery.
Alcohol rehab is not just something for the rich and famous. It’s available to anyone – and even vets with VA benefits. As a sign of our commitment to vets, Country Road works with the VA to help get you in to treatment at a price you can afford. That’s just one of the first things that we’ll do as we walk with you on the road to recovery. From there, you’ll have a trusted guide by your side every step of the way – including at least one staff member who is a veteran in recovery himself. To get started, call us or send a chat. You don’t have to live that way any more, and you don’t have to go it alone.