Addiction Treatment for Veterans: Care Options Available
Clinical Review by:
Published:
Dec 18, 2024
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06:36 p.m.
ET
Veterans have an overall higher risk of developing mental health disorders or addictions than the general population. Factors that may contribute to these challenges in Veterans include combat exposure, military culture, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), chronic pain, Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and reintegration into regular society. Veterans have unique needs due to the specialized nature of their military experience and addiction treatment should consider this factor when diagnosing and treating Veterans.
Gambling Addiction treatment for Military Veterans
Gambling addiction in particular is much more prevalent in military Veterans compared to the average person. Veteran Affairs (VA) conducted a study that found that 10% of Veterans meet the criteria for gambling addiction compared to only 1-3% of civilians. They also found that of those surveyed, 40% of Veterans were at risk of developing gambling addiction based on current habits. There are a variety of treatment options for Veterans who are suffering from gambling addiction.
It is worth noting that some of the United States’ military bases overseas have slot machines on them, although there has been a recent push to end that.
Virtual therapy
Therapy can be a beneficial option to help treat gambling addiction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a popular therapy technique that helps individuals evaluate the thoughts and feelings that impact a behavior that they want to change. A therapist can help a patient through this process to create positive coping mechanisms to replace negative ones, including gambling addiction.
Virtual therapy can provide more flexibility when seeking out treatment for gambling addiction. Finding specialized care for gambling addiction may be difficult and virtual therapy allows people access to specific types of care. Birches Health offers specialized gambling addiction services and is in-network with TRICARE and all other major insurance companies, keeping the cost of care for Veterans low or free.
To get started with Birches you can:
You can also feel free to call 833-483-3838 or email hello@bircheshealth.com to get in contact with the team right away.
In-person therapy
A popular treatment option for gambling addiction treatment in Veterans is in-person therapy. Therapy that is conducted face-to-face allows a patient and therapist to build a strong interpersonal relationship that supports the therapeutic process. There are many different therapy modalities that can be utilized during in-person therapy, such as CBT or Motivational Interviewing to treat gambling addiction.
Group support
Support groups can be a beneficial addition to a treatment plan for gambling addiction. Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is a mutual support group where men and women come together to support one another in their shared struggles and journey to recovery from gambling addiction. Birches Health also offers FREE virtual group meetings specifically for gambling addiction that Veterans can attend online.
VA resources
Veterans Affairs provides Veterans with access to a myriad of services to support their mental health and treat other issues such as gambling addiction. The VA offers:
Individual and group counseling
Couples and family counseling
Military sexual trauma (MST) counseling
Readjustment counseling
Employment counseling
Grief counseling
Substance use assessment and referrals
Assistance applying for VA benefits
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment
Treating a Substance Use Disorder specific to Veterans can be a complicated process depending on if there are co-occurring disorders or addictions they are also suffering from. SUD treatment can involve multiple layers of treatment that cater to an individual's needs. Treatment for SUD can include inpatient facilities, outpatient treatment, individual or group therapies, support groups or Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT).
Sex and Porn addiction
Although sex and porn addiction do not have their own diagnosis in the DSM-5 at this time, therapies that have been successful treating the symptoms and behaviors of both. Treatment for sex and porn addiction may include individual therapy using techniques such as CBT. Treatment may also include inpatient or outpatient services depending on the severity of one's addiction. Other treatment options for sex and porn addiction may involve group therapy, medication or 12-step programs like Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA).
Tobacco and nicotine addiction
The use of tobacco and nicotine products can be a significant part of military lifestyle and addiction may become a problem Veterans face. Nicotine pouches have become a popular and easily accessible product that has been found to be just as addictive as any other form of nicotine.
Nicotine and tobacco addiction can be treated a few different ways and sometimes involve a combination of multiple methods. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) uses a lozenge, gum or patch to provide smaller doses of nicotine without using more harmful products such as nicotine pouches or cigarettes. Medication may also be prescribed to help someone reduce their nicotine cravings and help them to quit overall use. NRTs or medication might also be paired with behavioral therapy to help an individual develop coping mechanisms to replace nicotine or tobacco use.
