Veteran Drug Rehab in Nebraska

Substance abuse is a widespread issue not only among the general U.S. population, but specifically U.S. veterans. With risk factors like mental illness and chronic pain, many veterans are driven to addiction.

While drug and alcohol abuse is common, there are plenty of treatment services available for veterans in Nebraska whether you live in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney, Grand Island, or Norfolk.

And with healthcare options like TRICARE and VA health benefits, treatment is often at least partially covered.

Read on to discover more about substance use disorders in veterans and rehabilitation options.

Alcohol and drug abuse is a common issue in previous service members.

In 2019 alone, 1.3 million veterans had substance use disorder. This is about 6.2% of veterans in the country. Of this group 343,000 were addicted to illicit drugs, 1 million to alcohol, and 98,000 to both.

The rate of substance abuse is higher in veterans than in the civilian population. To put it another way, more than one in ten veterans have been diagnosed with the disorder.

Mental health disorders like PTSD are also higher in veterans. This can lead to a reliance on substances like drugs or alcohol. Though abused substances vary between individuals, opioids tend to be the most commonly abused substance among veterans.

Addiction is not the only obstacle veterans in Nebraska face.

Here are some facts about veterans in Nebraska:

• There are about 142,176 veterans in the state of Nebraska.
• Or 10.3% of the state population.
• 5.4% of Nebraska veterans are unemployed.
• 5.8% live in poverty.
• 241 are homeless.

The stressors veterans face may help explain the high rate of addiction in this group.

Some of the most common risk factors veterans face include mental health disorders and chronic pain or injury. Both ailments can lead individuals to try to cope through substance abuse.

Other risk factors we see in veterans include trauma, abuse, sleep disturbances, poverty, homelessness, and readjusting to life after service.

All of these factors can affect the general population, but are frequently seen in veterans due to the nature of their service.

There are several kinds of treatment often seen in rehab facilities, most of which can be broken down into inpatient or outpatient treatment.

Inpatient treatment, which is sometimes known as residential treatment, requires the individual being treated to stay at a medical center for an extended period of time.

On the other hand, people receiving outpatient treatment are not required to stay at a drug rehab center at all times. Some outpatient treatment doesn’t require the individual to stay at a treatment center at all.

Other treatment options may include:

• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) using naltrexone or buprenorphine
• Detox or detoxification
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
• Partial hospitalization programs
• Counseling
• Behavioral therapy
• Aftercare
• Sober living homes

For those looking for veteran-specific care, some treatment facilities offer special programs for veterans facing addiction. These programs are meant to address the unique needs of this group.

Mental illness and addiction often go hand-in-hand, not only in veterans but in the general population. This is because many people may use substances like drugs or alcohol to cope with the symptoms of mental health disorders.

Mental health disorders that occur alongside substance abuse issues are referred to as dual diagnoses or co-occurring disorders.

Common mental health disorders that co-occur with addiction include:

• PTSD
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Panic disorders
• Eating disorders
• Obsessive compulsive disorder

In order to treat the addiction while also stopping the problem at the source, a lot of facilities offer dual diagnosis programs. Individuals often receive therapy alongside addiction treatment in these programs.

Commonly used therapy techniques include dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).

Looking for a rehab program can be stressful, so it’s important to know about resources that can help you narrow your search.

Here are some resources to help you find quality treatment facilities:

• SAMHSA Treatment Locator — The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers a confidential and anonymous locator to find addiction treatment anywhere in the country.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Nebraska — This state-specific page is a great resource to find health facilities near you, including for substance abuse rehab.
• Behavioral and Mental Health Resources — The Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs offers this resource to find mental and behavioral health support across the state.

It’s important to find care centers that not only offer the services you or your loved ones need, but also can be relied on. There are also a number of hotlines, like ours, you can call to have a professional help connect you with a rehab center.

You may find yourself wondering just how you can know for sure if a drug and alcohol rehab center can be relied on.

Luckily, there are several easy-to-spot qualities you can look out for when selecting a care center that will ensure you’re receiving reliable and reputable care.

Some qualities we recommend looking for:

• Low client-to-staff ratio
• Positive reviews and testimonials
• Evidence-based care options
• Accreditations through organizations such as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation
• Facilities (CARF)
• Certifications through third-party organizations like LegitScript
• Professional memberships
• Aftercare services

With these qualities in mind, you can make sure you’re on the right track for finding you or someone you love the right place to receive care.

Many people seeking addiction treatment worry about the costs associated with this kind of care. Though it may seem like an immense obstacle, there are military insurance options to help you afford the treatment you need.

TRICARE is a health insurance option veterans and their families may be able to access. This resource provides civilian health benefits and may help cover addiction treatment.

VA health benefits is a similar health insurance option veterans may have access to. Like TRICARE, substance abuse recovery care may be partially or fully covered. VA health benefits packages are determined based on several factors, like time served.

There are also private health insurance plans. A couple types of health insurance plans that veterans in Nebraska may have access to include VALife and VGLI.

While there are a myriad of resources and treatment options, addiction recovery may not always be as accessible as it seems.

This is because veterans face several barriers to care. One barrier veterans face is lack of awareness. Some individuals may not know they’re battling addiction. This can make it hard to get help unless someone else suggests it.

Another similar barrier is the embarrassment or shame associated with asking for help. It can be hard for some individuals to accept that they are struggling and need professional help or medical advice.

While internal barriers are a problem, some people have issues accessing care due to external factors such as long wait times in the Veterans Affairs medical centers, homelessness, or poverty.

Addiction care isn’t the only resource Nebraska veterans may need. The good news is there are many resources available online to find the services you need.

Resources for veterans in Nebraska:

• Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs — This site provides resources for everything from education to legal support as well as news and events.
• Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services — This state-based department page offers a tool to find resources for veterans including crisis intervention and emotional support.
• University of Nebraska – Military & Veteran Success Center — This resource from the University of Nebraska connects veterans with local benefits and support systems.

These tools are also good places to look for transitional or short-term support systems like sober living facilities or halfway houses.

Though substance abuse can be an immense struggle and the process to recovery can be overwhelming, there are plenty of ways to start your journey.

If you’re a veteran in Nebraska in search of guidance on addiction recovery, be sure to give our helpline a call today. We can connect you to treatment options near you and help you find resources for addiction recovery.