Types of Addiction Therapy for Veterans

Veterans often struggle with different mental health and substance use issues, which may be related to their exposure to unique risk factors and the nature of their work.¹ Different types of addiction therapy can help Veterans who are dealing with substance misuse and/or co-occurring mental health disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression.²

This page will help you understand behavioral therapies for substance use disorder, medications for addiction therapy, and other addiction therapy types, and how to find substance use disorder therapy for Veterans.

Behavioral Therapies for Substance Use Disorder

Behavioral therapies are one of the cornerstones of effective substance use treatment.³ There are a number of evidence-based behavioral therapies for addiction that have been proven to be effective in helping Veterans struggling with substance use disorders (SUDs).³

Some of the therapies used in addiction treatment may include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT can help Veterans with SUDs develop helpful and more realistic thoughts about themselves, other people, and the future, and work on healthier behaviors that do not involve the use of substances.³ It teaches Veterans the skills they’ll need to stay sober and avoid substance use, helps them develop better ways of managing stress, and more.³
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). This type of addiction therapy is designed to reduce self-harming behaviors, including substance misuse.² It teaches Veterans different skills so they can avoid harmful and impulsive behaviors, including suicidality, and can also improve symptoms of PTSD, depression, or borderline personality disorder (BPD).²
• Contingency Management. This is a substance use therapy based on principles of positive reinforcement that has been shown to be especially helpful for certain SUDs, such as stimulant addiction.² Veterans receive tangible incentives, such as vouchers to exchange for goods, as rewards for positive changes, such as negative drug screens.²
• Motivational Interviewing (MI). MI is designed to help Veterans resolve their ambivalence to different types of changes by helping them explore their internal motivations for wanting to make positive changes, such as decreasing or stopping substance use, in their lives.²
• Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET). This is a version of MI that focuses specifically on changing alcohol or substance use behaviors.³ It examines a Veteran’s reasons and desires for wanting to make a change and helps strengthen their motivations to do so.³
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EDMR). This has been shown to reduce symptoms of PTSD.² It works by helping people reprocess traumatic memories and helps them learn techniques to manage their emotions.² It is generally a shorter-term therapy that takes place over 6-12 sessions.²
• Addiction group therapy. This involves participating in different forms of therapy in a group of other Veterans who know what it’s like to be in your shoes. Groups can accomplish different purposes; for example, you may participate in a variety of different substance use therapies intended to help Veterans struggling not only with addiction but also with co-occurring disorders like PTSD or other issues.^2,4
• Addiction family therapy. SUDs and co-occurring mental health conditions like PTSD can impact not only the Veteran but their families as well. If a Veteran wants to include their families in treatment, addiction family therapy may offer different benefits.² It can provide education to families, help Veterans and their families work through different issues, and help families learn ways to support a Veteran’s recovery.^2,5

Medication for Addiction Therapy

In some cases, depending on the substance a Veteran uses, medication may be used alongside therapy to treat SUDs.³ Medication therapy for substance use disorder involves using specific medications to:³

• Help reduce cravings.
• Prevent relapse.
• Help people remain in treatment.
• Decrease the risk of harm, including death, related to substance use.

There are three FDA-approved medications that may be used in the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD).³ These medications for OUD include:³

• Methadone.
• Buprenorphine/naloxone.
• Naltrexone injection.

There are three FDA-approved medications as well as an antidepressant used off-label by the VA for the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD):^3,6,7

• Acamprosate.
• Disulfiram.
• Naltrexone.
• Topiramate. (This medication is not FDA-approved but the VA has completed trials showing its effectiveness in treating co-morbid AUD and PTSD. It may also be useful in treating co-morbid AUD and traumatic brain injury.)

Other Types of Addiction Therapy for Veterans

In addition to behavioral therapies for substance use disorder and medication, there are also other types of addiction therapy for Veterans. These may include complementary and alternative health therapies recreational and holistic therapies for addiction as well as recovery groups.

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Complementary and alternative therapies may be used to supplement treatment and help support Veterans in working toward improved well-being and mental health.⁸  Complementary and alternative therapies that a Veteran may receive can depend on the approach of the specific treatment center.

Different types of complementary and alternative therapies that may be used in Veteran addiction treatment can include:⁹

• Acupuncture.
• Osteopathy and chiropractic care.
• Meditation/mindfulness.
• Tai Chi/Qigong.
• Yoga.

Recovery Groups

Recovery groups, also known as self-help groups or mutual support groups, can play an important role in supporting long-term recovery and can complement other treatment forms by helping Veterans stay connected and maintaining social support with other Veterans in recovery.¹⁰ Veterans may participate in self-help groups during treatment as well as after treatment has ended as a way of supporting lifelong recovery.

Different recovery groups that Veterans may participate in can include:¹⁰

• 12-Step programs that involve working through the 12 steps of recovery with the assistance of a sponsor, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
• 12-Step groups for specific substances, such as Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA), Marijuana Anonymous (MA), or Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA).
• Non-12-Step groups for Veterans who prefer a secular approach, such as SMART Recovery.

Find Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Veterans

Veterans who are struggling with SUDs also often suffer from co-occurring physical and mental health disorders, such as:¹¹

• PTSD.
• Depression.
• Anxiety.
• Chronic pain.
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI).

One study indicates around 20% of Veterans have co-occurring disorders.¹²

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Veterans with SUDs are 3-4 times more likely to receive a PTSD or depression diagnosis, and 63% of recent Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans who were diagnosed with SUDs also met the criteria for PTSD.¹¹

Veterans with PTSD and SUDs are also more likely to experience additional co-occurring conditions, such as schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorder.¹¹

Veterans who have co-occurring disorders are generally encouraged to receive treatment for both disorders, as each condition can affect, and potentially worsen, the outcome of the other.¹²

Many facilities operated by American Addiction Centers (AAC) offer Veteran-specific treatment tracks that can address SUDs and co-occurring disorders. AAC rehab facilities are also VA-approved community care providers, which are facilities that are authorized by the VA to provide care when the VA is unable to do so.¹³

Community care providers meet specific eligibility requirements and can provide Veterans with increased choice and accessibility to care.¹⁴

If you or a Veteran you care about are struggling with addiction or co-occurring disorders, you should know that it’s never too late to seek help. Substance use treatment can help you, or your loved one, take back control of your life and start the path to recovery.

If you are interested in AAC’s drug and alcohol rehab for Veterans, please call to speak to a caring admissions navigator about types of addiction treatment and rehab options. Our admissions navigators may be Veterans themselves or have gone through treatment, so they understand what you, or your loved one, are going through.

You can also learn more about using VA benefits or insurance coverage for rehab, other ways to pay for rehab, or instantly verify your insurance or VA benefits. Please don’t wait to get the help you deserve, start treatment today.