Alcohol Rehab for Veterans: What to Expect

As a nation, we’ve come a long way in our understanding of alcoholism. Still, stigma lingers and information about recovery can be hard to come by. If you’re considering getting help for your drinking, here’s what you need to know and what to expect from alcohol rehab for veterans.

Alcoholism & Veterans

Excessive alcohol use is a problem for many in the military even before they return to civilian life. Although there are strict regulations around consumption while on duty, many members of the military turn to alcohol to relieve stress, boredom, and the trauma of combat. According to one survey, the US military is the heaviest-drinking profession in the country. What’s more, they binge drink more than average as well.

For many, that’s a habit that continues after deployment and quickly spirals into a full-blown addiction.

Do You Need Alcohol Rehab for Veterans?

How can you know when you’ve crossed the line? How do you know if you need alcohol rehab for veterans?

Binge drinking is defined as 5 or more drinks in one sitting for men; 4 for women. However, for some people that number could be much lower and still be problematic. That’s because alcoholism is defined more by the effect it has on your life than by the number of drinks you consume.

How is alcohol affecting your life? Are you missing days of work? Has your health suffered? Are your relationships thriving? Do you feel like the best version of yourself?

If you are experiencing negative repercussions from your drinking and you still continue to consume, you could have a problem — no matter how much you are drinking.

Alcohol Detox

If you are drinking to excess, quitting might not be so simple. Clearing your body of alcohol can cause it to go into shock, creating a variety of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. If not medically managed, alcohol detox can cause heart attacks, coma, and even death. At the very least, the discomfort caused by the process could cause you to pick up a drink before you’ve even started getting sober. When it’s time to quit drinking, the 24/7 care of a professional detox can be invaluable.

What Happens in Alcohol Rehab for Veterans

Once alcohol is removed from your system, you can begin to work on the underlying reasons for your drinking in residential addiction treatment or IOP. For some, that may be long-buried trauma such as the emotional scars of combat. Others may struggle with co-occurring disorders like PTSD, depression, or anxiety. When you arrive at residential addiction treatment, your care team will thoroughly discuss your unique situation with you, including your fears, needs, and goals. From there, they will develop a customized treatment plan consisting of a variety of treatment modalities especially chosen to help you heal. At Acqua Recovery, we even offer special programming for veterans.

You’ll also enjoy down time and experiential activities like fly fishing, yoga, equine therapy, hiking, and more. In residential addiction treatment, you can reconnect with the joy of life and renew your hope for the future.

Paying for Rehab for Veterans

At Acqua Recovery, we are committed to helping veterans get access to the help that they need. That’s why we are in network with TRICARE, TriWest, TRICARE East, Humana Military, and many other insurance providers. Call our team to verify your benefits and we’ll work with you to figure out a plan to make addiction treatment affordable.

At our sanctuary for healing, you can rediscover the person you were before it all changed. Reconnect with the inner peace that you’ve been missing for so long. Recover.


MATT BIEKERT

Matt-Biekert-1Matt was born and raised in North Stonington, Connecticut. He has always been a close-knit family guy. When he is not working you can find him outside, playing sports, being a prankster and enjoying a great laugh. His favorite hobbies are playing golf, photography and travel. Matt had his own struggles with addiction and is very proud to share his story of recovery and his passion for the mission of Acqua. He found his way to Acqua in search of treatment – he was actually our second patient!! He was very excited to join our team on his 1 year sobriety anniversary. He likes to say that he helped open the center (as a patient) and we have never been able to get rid of him! [Editor’s note: we hope we keep him forever.] He began at Acqua by helping create a small, Alumni program, and then transitioned to Outreach and marketing, which is a natural for him because he loves to connect with people from all walks of life who are seeking help. In February 2018, Matt was promoted to Admissions Director; because he is so passionate about his work he never feels like it is a job to help guide people on the path to recovery.

Alcohol Rehab for Veterans: What to Expect

Dr. Daniel Pickrell

Dr. Daniel Pickrell
Medical Reviewer

Dr. Pickrell is a board-certified psychiatrist with interests in addiction and psychiatry. He strives to identify the underlying cause of substance use. His understanding of addiction as the overlapping symptoms of biopsychosocial development is the foundation to his care model. He is committed to helping both patients and families understand that addiction is a treatable medical illness. He has been involved in the treatment of addiction for the last 17 years and completed his residency training at the University of Utah.

As a nation, we’ve come a long way in our understanding of alcoholism. Still, stigma lingers and information about recovery can be hard to come by. If you’re considering getting help for your drinking, here’s what you need to know and what to expect from alcohol rehab for veterans.

Alcoholism & Veterans

Excessive alcohol use is a problem for many in the military even before they return to civilian life. Although there are strict regulations around consumption while on duty, many members of the military turn to alcohol to relieve stress, boredom, and the trauma of combat. According to one survey, the US military is the heaviest-drinking profession in the country. What’s more, they binge drink more than average as well.

For many, that’s a habit that continues after deployment and quickly spirals into a full-blown addiction.

Do You Need Alcohol Rehab for Veterans?

How can you know when you’ve crossed the line? How do you know if you need alcohol rehab for veterans?

Binge drinking is defined as 5 or more drinks in one sitting for men; 4 for women. However, for some people that number could be much lower and still be problematic. That’s because alcoholism is defined more by the effect it has on your life than by the number of drinks you consume.

How is alcohol affecting your life? Are you missing days of work? Has your health suffered? Are your relationships thriving? Do you feel like the best version of yourself?

If you are experiencing negative repercussions from your drinking and you still continue to consume, you could have a problem — no matter how much you are drinking.

Alcohol Detox

If you are drinking to excess, quitting might not be so simple. Clearing your body of alcohol can cause it to go into shock, creating a variety of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. If not medically managed, alcohol detox can cause heart attacks, coma, and even death. At the very least, the discomfort caused by the process could cause you to pick up a drink before you’ve even started getting sober. When it’s time to quit drinking, the 24/7 care of a professional detox can be invaluable.

What Happens in Alcohol Rehab for Veterans

Once alcohol is removed from your system, you can begin to work on the underlying reasons for your drinking in residential addiction treatment or IOP. For some, that may be long-buried trauma such as the emotional scars of combat. Others may struggle with co-occurring disorders like PTSD, depression, or anxiety. When you arrive at residential addiction treatment, your care team will thoroughly discuss your unique situation with you, including your fears, needs, and goals. From there, they will develop a customized treatment plan consisting of a variety of treatment modalities especially chosen to help you heal. At Acqua Recovery, we even offer special programming for veterans.

You’ll also enjoy down time and experiential activities like fly fishing, yoga, equine therapy, hiking, and more. In residential addiction treatment, you can reconnect with the joy of life and renew your hope for the future.

Paying for Rehab for Veterans

At Acqua Recovery, we are committed to helping veterans get access to the help that they need. That’s why we are in network with TRICARE, TriWest, TRICARE East, Humana Military, and many other insurance providers. Call our team to verify your benefits and we’ll work with you to figure out a plan to make addiction treatment affordable.

At our sanctuary for healing, you can rediscover the person you were before it all changed. Reconnect with the inner peace that you’ve been missing for so long. Recover.


MATT BIEKERT

Matt-Biekert-1Matt was born and raised in North Stonington, Connecticut. He has always been a close-knit family guy. When he is not working you can find him outside, playing sports, being a prankster and enjoying a great laugh. His favorite hobbies are playing golf, photography and travel. Matt had his own struggles with addiction and is very proud to share his story of recovery and his passion for the mission of Acqua. He found his way to Acqua in search of treatment – he was actually our second patient!! He was very excited to join our team on his 1 year sobriety anniversary. He likes to say that he helped open the center (as a patient) and we have never been able to get rid of him! [Editor’s note: we hope we keep him forever.] He began at Acqua by helping create a small, Alumni program, and then transitioned to Outreach and marketing, which is a natural for him because he loves to connect with people from all walks of life who are seeking help. In February 2018, Matt was promoted to Admissions Director; because he is so passionate about his work he never feels like it is a job to help guide people on the path to recovery.

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