Veteran Drug Rehab in Maryland

Veterans make up over 10% of Maryland’s population. As in other areas, veterans in Maryland face numerous challenges, including high rates of substance abuse.

Military service can be stressful and traumatic, and life as a veteran can also be difficult. Veterans have high rates of homelessness and mental health disorders. All of these factors can lead to substance abuse.

Veterans in Maryland who are looking for substance abuse treatment services have plenty of options. You may be able to use your military benefits such as TRICARE or VA health benefits to pay for drug or alcohol rehab.

Substance use disorders are more common among veterans than in the general population. The factors that lead to alcohol and drug abuse in veterans are complex, but many risk factors are associated with military service and common challenges faced by veterans.

Here are some facts that highlight the scope of substance abuse in veterans:

• In 2018, more than 25,000 veterans between the ages of 18 and 25 had an alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the past year, while more than 874,000 veterans aged 26 or older had an AUD.
• Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug among veterans, followed by heroin, then cocaine.
• Female veterans were half as likely to develop an addiction to drugs as male veterans.
• Around 8% of homeless adults in the U.S. are veterans.

As of 2021, there were some 377,772 veterans living in Maryland. Maryland veterans received $30 million in cash benefits in 2021.

The unemployment rate for veterans in Maryland is 8.5%, which is significantly higher than the national veterans rate of 5.3%.

The homelessness rate among veterans in Maryland is around half the national rate. The median household income for veterans is nearly $90,000, compared with around $60,000 nationally.

The majority of Maryland veterans served during peacetime only or during the Vietnam era. Almost 40% of Maryland veterans are seniors.

Substance abuse rates among veterans have been high for decades, and the reasons vary. There are many risk factors for drug and alcohol abuse that are commonly found in veterans.

Due to the high-stress nature of military service and the challenges of life as a veteran, retired military service members may turn to drugs and alcohol to cope.

Risk factors for substance abuse in veterans include:

• High disability rates
• High homelessness rates
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Co-occurring mental and behavioral disorders
• Physical injuries, chronic pain, and psychological trauma
• Low employment rates
• Trouble reconnecting with loved ones upon returning home from deployment

If you are searching for a veterans treatment center in Maryland, there are a lot of options.

The level of care that you require is one of the first decisions you need to make. An addiction specialist can inform you on how to choose the right level of care.

Depending on your substance use disorder and other factors, you might enter medical detox, inpatient, or outpatient care. A sober living home or halfway house may also be needed.

Outpatient rehab facilities can include intensive outpatient programs (IOP), partial hospitalization programs (PHP), or general outpatient care.

Common treatments include detoxification, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), group therapy, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) using methadone or buprenorphine, and more.

Some treatment facilities also offer special short-term or long-term programs that are designed specifically for veterans.

These programs could be offered at VA medical centers through the VA Maryland health care system, or at private alcohol and drug rehab centers.

When someone has both a mental health or behavioral health disorder as well as a substance use disorder, this is called a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders.

Co-occurring disorders are complicated because while each disorder has its own symptoms, they also play into one another. For example, someone who is depressed might use drugs to cope, and using drugs might further their depression.

Common disorders that occur alongside substance use disorders in veterans include:

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

Co-occurring disorders are especially common among veterans. Dual diagnosis treatment programs are designed to treat each separate disorder as well as the whole person.

You can find rehab programs for veterans anywhere in Maryland. Whether you are in Baltimore, Bel Air, or anywhere else in the state, treatment won’t be too far.

You might find veterans rehab programs directly through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), or you might find private rehab centers that offer special programs for veterans.

You can look up credible rehab programs in Maryland using the following resources:

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) — SAMHSA is a leading resource for people who need information on substance abuse. Their website has a database of treatment centers listed by state that are certified and offer evidence-based treatment approaches for substance use disorders.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) — The VA has offices across the state of Maryland. Their website includes a list of drug and alcohol treatment centers that offer veteran-specific rehab programs, sorted by state.

In addition to deciding whether you want to attend a rehab program that is specifically for veterans, you need to know what to look for in a treatment center.

Certain quality markers separate the best rehab facilities from the rest.

Use these signs to determine the best rehab facilities:

• Accreditation through either the Joint Commission or the Commission on Accreditation of
• Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
• High Google rating
• Positive client testimonials
• Specialized veterans programs are offered
• High staff-to-patient ratios
• Certifications and professional memberships
• High success rates (low rates of relapse among alumni)
• Use of evidence-based treatment practices

Veterans should never have to worry about how they are going to pay for treatment. Substance use treatment is expensive, but veterans have options available that can help them pay for the care they need.

TRICARE is a low-cost health insurance similar to Medicaid or Medicare that is only available to active-duty military service members, veterans, and their families.

If you have TRICARE, your coverage can vary based on income, how long you served, and other factors. Many rehab centers in Maryland accept TRICARE insurance.

If you have healthcare coverage through the VA, you should be able to use your benefits to pay for treatment at a number of different Maryland rehab facilities.

Veterans who are approved for VA military insurance have varying levels of coverage, so it’s a good idea to check your coverage details.

Private health insurance is one of the easiest ways to pay for substance abuse treatment. If you are a veteran with private insurance, you can get your rehab program fully or partially covered.

Some of the most common private health insurance plans in Maryland include:

• Kaiser Permanente
• CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Coventry Health Care
• UnitedHealthcare
• Assurant
• Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan
• Aetna
• Cigna

When it comes to seeking and finding substance abuse treatment, veterans face unique challenges and obstacles.

Veterans have high rates of homelessness and unemployment which might make paying for treatment overwhelming. There is also a stigma among military and veterans about receiving mental healthcare.

Further, veterans might face a lack of support from their loved ones as well as waitlists at accessible veterans treatment centers.

Fortunately, many resources are available to veterans in Maryland to help them access the help they need.

Although veterans do face barriers to receiving help, there are many organizations that are set up to help veterans in need.

Organizations in Maryland can help veterans with such issues as homelessness, domestic violence, employment, insurance, financial struggles, and more.

Maryland veterans can find help via the following resources:

• 211 Maryland — 211 Maryland is a hotline that people in Maryland can call to access help and resources. By dialing 2-1-1, Maryland veterans can speak to referral specialists or be connected to the VA for help.
• Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs — The Maryland VA runs numerous programs to help veterans get the help they need. There are county offices across the state where veterans can go to get in-person help and referrals to resources.
• Maryland Department of Labor — The Maryland Department of Labor offers veterans services including workforce development and adult learning programs for young adults and older veterans. The point of these programs is to help Maryland veterans find and keep jobs.
• Help for Homeless Veterans Hotline — By dialing 1-877-4AID VET (877-424-3838), veterans can talk to trained VA counselors about homelessness and where to get help. The helpline service is available 24/7 for veterans facing homelessness.

If you are a veteran in Maryland looking to overcome addiction to opioids, benzodiazepines, alcohol, illicit drugs, or any other substance use disorder, there are options for treatment available to you.

Call us today to speak to a treatment specialist about the best veterans addiction rehab programs in your area.