Veteran Drug Rehab in Maine

Many veterans are living with a substance use disorder. The high-stress lifestyle that comes with being in the military, trauma from service, and numerous other reasons can lead to drug or alcohol abuse among veterans.

For veterans located in Maine who are looking for drug and alcohol addiction treatment services, there are many options that may be covered by military insurance like TRICARE or their VA benefits.

Addiction treatment can include inpatient and outpatient treatment programs. There are also many different therapy options, support groups, and other evidence-based treatment options.

Learn more about the rates of substance abuse in veterans, programs for veterans in Maine, addiction treatment centers near you, resources for finding help, and more.

Military service often involves situations that are highly stressful and dangerous, which can often cause long-term psychological and physical injuries. This can lead to self-medicating as a form of coping with pain and trauma.

Substance abuse is not uncommon for veterans, due to factors like mental health issues and other hardships that can lead to drug and alcohol addiction.

Veteran substance abuse rates include:

• Approximately 1.1 million veterans meet the criteria for a substance use disorder.
• 80% of veterans battle alcohol use disorder.
• Male veterans are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder than female veterans.
• Nearly 27% of veterans with substance use disorders abuse illicit drugs.
• 13% of veterans who received opioids for pain management developed an opioid use disorder.
• Overall opioid overdose rates of veterans increased from 14% to 21%.
• One in ten veterans entered drug rehab for heroin addiction.
• One in seven veterans struggle with both alcohol and drug addiction.
• Veterans living with substance use disorders are more than twice as likely to die by suicide than people not in the military.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that 112,626 veterans of the U.S. military live in Maine, making up approximately 10% of the adult population of Maine.

With statistics stating one in ten veterans will have a substance abuse disorder, that means a little over 11,000 veterans in Maine may currently be living with drug and alcohol addiction.

There are approximately 16,144 veterans in Maine living in homes with serious structural issues, and 103 veterans are currently experiencing homelessness.

These are concerning numbers, due to the fact that veterans are often also dealing with unemployment, mental health issues, and other risk factors for substance abuse.

Active duty service members and veterans are both at a greater risk for developing a drug and alcohol addiction, for numerous reasons.

When military veterans have faced stressful situations, such as a difficult deployment or seeing combat, their chance for developing a substance use disorder greatly increases.

Risk factors for developing a drug or alcohol addiction include:

• Mental and physical injuries received from time spent at war
• Chronic pain
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Co-occurring mental disorders
• Having a hard time reconnecting with friends and family
• Difficulty finding and maintaining employment
• Homelessness
• Disability ratings

If you or a loved one are looking for drug or alcohol rehab centers, you may notice that there are many different types of treatment plans available. The first choice you should make is whether you would prefer long-term or short-term treatment.

The next step is usually medically supervised detoxification. Then, you have the option of inpatient and outpatient treatment. There is also medication-assisted treatment (MAT), support groups, and several therapy options.

Treatment programs you can expect to find in substance abuse recovery centers include:

• Medical detox
• Inpatient programs
• Intensive outpatient programs
• Outpatient programs
• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
• 12-step programs
• Individual and group therapy
• Family therapy
• Transitional housing
• Community outreach programs
• Relapse prevention
• Aftercare

There are also options specifically designed for veterans. These special programs are often run by other veterans, which can put former military members at ease during recovery.

Many veterans who are living with a substance use disorder are often also dealing with behavioral and mental health issues, also called a dual diagnosis.

Dual diagnosis programs work to heal the underlying issues that a veteran may be dealing with, which makes recovery much more likely to last and succeed.

Mental and behavioral health disorders that often co-occur with substance abuse include:

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

Dual diagnosis treatment typically includes such therapies as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing (MI), trauma-based therapy, and other evidence-based treatment options.

There are also specific medications that treat mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and more.

If you or a loved one are seeking substance abuse treatment, many programs can be found in large cities, such as Augusta, Bangor, Machias, Portland, and Scarborough. There are usually drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs in most major hospital systems, too.

Other resources for locating veterans rehab programs in Maine include:

• U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs — This database of drug and alcohol addiction treatment facilities offers specialized veterans rehab programs directly through the VA.
• SAMHSA — The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers an extensive and searchable database of substance abuse treatment centers in each state, as well as other resources.

When you are considering an addiction treatment program there are many factors to consider. One of the most important things to look for is whether it is of high quality and reputable.

If you are a veteran who would prefer a specialized program for veterans with staff who are certified to assist their unique struggles, there are many options for you to look into as well.

Signs of a high-quality rehab include:

• Accreditations, typically through the Joint Commission or CARF
• Certifications
• Positive client reviews and testimonials
• High success rates
• Evidence-based treatment methods
• Specialized programs for veterans
• Low client-to-staff/patient-to-doctor ratios

Affordability should never be a reason why a veteran does not seek help for a drug or alcohol addiction. Help is available for those who need it.

Many substance abuse programs for veterans can be covered by military insurance like TRICARE, VA health benefits, private insurance, and self-pay options.

TRICARE is a type of insurance that is exclusively for veterans and active service military members, and it works much the same way as Medicaid and Medicare do for civilians.

The amount of coverage veterans or active duty military personnel will receive will be determined on a case-by-case basis, with many factors being considered.

If you or a family member have served in the United States military, you are likely eligible for VA health benefits. Most, if not all, of your healthcare expenses could be covered under these benefits.

Disclaimer: The amount of coverage each veteran may receive will depend on the case, and numerous other factors as well.

Some of the services your VA health benefits may cover include inpatient and outpatient treatment programs, and others.

If you are looking to start your recovery journey in a private or luxury addiction rehab facility, you may find that they do not accept military insurance or VA health benefits.

These types of programs often accept most major private health insurance providers, and offer self-pay options. They might also provide financing, and payment assistance on a sliding-fee scale.

Unfortunately, even though there are many treatment resources available for those who need help quitting their addiction, many veterans face barriers that stand in the way of them seeking care.

Some of the barriers that veterans face when seeking substance abuse treatment:

• Lack of adequate mental health care
• Lack of financial resources or lack of funding
• The stigma of seeking help
• Lack of support from friends and family
• Long and lengthy waitlists

The good news is there are many resources that are aimed at assisting veterans get past these barriers and receive the help they need and deserve.

The following organizations are available to assist veterans in Maine with housing, employment, mental health, medical services, education assistance, and many more resources.

Maine veterans have access to the following resources:

• Caribou VA Medical Center: This medical center provides a number of different physical and mental health services, as well as alcohol and drug dependency programs for veterans.
• Lewiston VA Clinic: This is a medical center that is a part of the VA Maine healthcare system, and provides several different health and wellness programs, as well as drug and alcohol rehab services.
• Maine Department of Veterans Affairs: The Maine Department of Veterans Affairs provides numerous services for veterans, including housing, medical services, mental health services, access to alcohol and drug rehab centers, assistance with education, and more.
• Maine Veterans’ Homes: This is a nonprofit organization that provides short-term and long-term care for elderly veterans and nursing homes for those veterans at the end stages of life. They work closely with the US Department of Veterans Affairs to access veterans benefits and make sure they have the resources they need.

If you or a loved one are ready to begin your journey to recovery, know that you are not alone, and that help is available to you right now.

When you are ready to take the next step, call our hotline phone number now to get connected with an addiction specialist who will help you find rehabilitation centers in your area.