Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol use disorders are prevalent among veterans and military personnel. Veterans may drink as a means to self-medicate against troubling mental health symptoms, to cope with readjusting to civilian life, or manage chronic pain. Binge drinking and alcohol abuse often begin during active duty and continue after leaving the military, progressing into alcoholism. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, traumatic experiences and exposure to combat involving violence is correlated with an increased risk of problematic drinking.
Facts about veterans and alcohol use:
- Among veterans with a substance use disorder, more than 80% abuse alcohol
- Alcohol is the primary substance used by 65% of veterans who enter treatment — almost double that of the general population
- Compared with female veterans, male veterans are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with alcohol use disorder
- Rates of binge drinking are higher in veterans with PTSD
If you’re a veteran who struggles with binge drinking or alcohol abuse that’s disrupting your life and relationships, you’re not alone.
Alcohol rehab for veterans
At Pyramid Military Therapy & Recovery Programs, we offer detoxification and withdrawal management as well as residential/inpatient treatment for veterans in recovery from alcohol use disorder. Those who require medically monitored detox to safely withdrawal from heavy or prolonged alcohol use have access to 24/7 nursing care in a comfortable, non-hospital environment.
Within our residential program, individual and group therapy with our experienced counselors offers a safe place for veterans in recovery to open up and work through struggles with alcohol use and excessive drinking. Support for co-occurring disorders and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) are also available.
Process-based therapies can be utilized to help you change the thought and behavior patterns that make you more likely to abuse alcohol. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be especially effective for veterans seeking treatment for alcohol abuse. Through CBT, our treatment team can teach you ways to cope with cravings and avoid returning to alcohol abuse.
