Veteran Drug Rehab in Arizona

Veterans are often more inclined to abuse alcohol and illicit drugs than the general population, as they have often been exposed to a high-stress lifestyle or dangerous situations.

Veterans located in Arizona have a number of treatment options available to them, and can often have their treatment covered by military insurance or through the VA.

Many rehab programs and treatment centers also offer specialized programs for veterans that allow participants to take part in group therapy with others who share similar experiences.

Find out more about specialized rehab programs for veterans in Arizona, health insurance for veterans, and resources for veterans in the state.

Veterans of the U.S. military are more likely to use drugs and alcohol than the general population, likely due to the dangerous and high-stress lifestyle that they are exposed to.

This is especially true for military service members who have spent time at war or who have lived through a particularly long or difficult deployment.

Veteran substance abuse and mental illness rates include:

• Roughly 1 in 10 veterans will be diagnosed with a substance use disorder at some point in their lives.
• More than 80% of veterans report abusing alcohol and 27% report abusing illicit drugs.
• Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug among veterans.
• Male veterans are more than twice as likely to develop a substance use disorder involving drugs or alcohol than female veterans.
• Up to 50% of veterans are living with at least one co-occurring mental disorder.
• Up to 75% of homeless veterans have a substance use disorder as well.

According to the Arizona Department of Veterans Affairs, there are nearly 480,000 veterans currently living in Arizona. Veterans account for about 6.9% of the adult population nationwide.

With 1 in 10 veterans being diagnosed with a substance use disorder in their lifetime, this is potentially around 50,000 veterans in Arizona who are living with substance use issues.

In addition to being at risk for substance abuse, veterans in Arizona and throughout the United States are also at an increased risk for unemployment, homelessness, and mental illness.

Military lifestyle and culture can expose a person to high-stress situations that they would not otherwise experience as a civilian.

This exposure to high-stress situations, including frequent exposure to danger, can make veterans more inclined to lean on substances as a form of self-medication.

It is also estimated that the actual percentage of veterans who abuse drugs and alcohol is much higher than reported, because veterans tend to face additional stigma that might prevent them from seeking help or reporting their use.

Risk factors for veterans and substance abuse can include:

• Physical injuries from war
• Psychological injuries from war
• Ongoing pain or disability
• Homelessness
• Unemployment
• Lack of support from family and friends
• Co-occurring mental health or behavioral health disorders
• Difficulty in settling back into old life after deployment or war

Veterans will have many options to choose from when it comes to addiction treatment programs in Arizona.

They may first want to choose between an inpatient or outpatient treatment recovery center, depending on the severity of their addiction as well as what is available and affordable.

Treatment services you can expect to find in addiction programs for veterans include:

• Outpatient treatment and intensive outpatient treatment
• Short-term or long-term inpatient/residential treatment
• Partial hospitalization programs (PHP)
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
• Medical detox
• Observational detoxification
• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorders
• Relapse prevention support
• Methadone treatment
• Dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring disorders
• Behavioral therapy
• Group therapy
• 12-step meetings
• Aftercare
• Veterans may also want to choose treatment centers that feature special programs for veterans or active duty military members.

These programs are often run and staffed by veterans who are also recovering from substance abuse, so participants are always around people who understand their needs.

It is common for veterans to be living with mental health issues or behavioral health disorders after experiencing stress and trauma during war or deployment.

And people who are living with substance use disorders may also be living with mental or behavioral health disorders.

Mental health/behavioral health disorders that often co-occur with substance use include:

• General depression
• Anxiety
• Panic disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Mood disorders
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

Because co-occurring disorders are common among veterans and people in general with substance abuse disorders, dual diagnosis programs are frequently found in addiction treatment.

Dual diagnosis treatment aims to treat the underlying causes for a person’s substance abuse, so that the substance abuse is less likely to come back once treated.

Treatment for mental health disorders while in addiction rehab can include a variety of therapies as well as prescription medications.

Veterans rehab programs can often be found in big cities such as Phoenix, Prescott, Tempe, or Tuscon.

Some veteran rehab programs are offered through private rehab centers but many can be found in large medical centers or VA hospitals.

Resources for locating veterans rehab programs in Arizona include:

• SAMHSA — The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a large database of substance abuse and behavioral health treatment centers that are sortable and searchable based on different factors. You can search for treatment facilities by city or state.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — This database through the VA shows treatment facilities that offer specialized programs for veterans.

Always make sure that any drug and alcohol rehab center is reputable and possesses certain qualities before signing up to attend a program there.

Signs of a quality drug and alcohol rehab program include:

• High rate of graduation
• Accreditations with national organizations like the Joint Commission or CARF
• Positive client testimonials
• Designation as a non-profit organization
• High ratings on Google
• Evidence-based and science-based treatments
• Certifications and memberships with relevant organizations

While veterans may face certain obstacles when it comes to starting addiction treatment, affordability should never be one of them.

Veterans in Arizona should have no trouble finding programs that are covered by military or private insurance, and which may even be completely covered in some instances.

TRICARE is military insurance that is available exclusively to active duty members of the military or retired veterans, as well as family members of either group.

TRICARE is similar to Medicare or Medicaid, and people can be approved for different amounts of coverage depending on various factors.

Many veterans have access to benefits directly through the VA, which include both healthcare and disability benefits.

Depending on various factors, individual veterans will qualify for different amounts of benefits, but some may find that they can attend drug addiction rehab for little to no cost to them personally.

Veterans are also welcome to sign up for private insurance or insurance through an employer.

Private insurance may cover rehab centers that are not covered by public or military insurance, such as rehab centers that are considered luxury rehab facilities.

Even with available support and resources, many veterans still face obstacles when it comes to seeking treatment for substance abuse.

Some of the barriers that veterans face when seeking recovery programs include:

• Long waiting lists
• Stigma
• Fear of legal repercussions
• Lack of support from family and friends
• Lack of financial resources
• Lack of adequate mental health care nearby

For veterans in Arizona, there are resources available locally to help them overcome these obstacles and get started in programs for addiction recovery.

The following is a list of organizations in Arizona that provide resources to veterans for substance abuse, as well as support for homelessness, unemployment, and mental health counseling.

Arizona veterans have access to the following resources:

• Arizona Military Family Relief Fund (MFRF) — This fund was created to provide financial relief to veterans, active military members, and their families during times of unexpected hardship.
• Be Connected AZ — This organization assists veterans in a variety of areas including employment, legal aid, mental health services, and housing.
• Veterans First LTD — This Arizona organization aims to help veterans in stabilizing their lives and ending homelessness, with a special emphasis on female veterans and veterans who are age 55 and over.

It is never too early or too late to seek professional help if you or a loved one is currently living with a substance use disorder in Arizona.

If you need help locating a treatment facility in Arizona for veterans with substance use disorders, or if you simply have questions about addiction treatment, call our helpline at any time.