Substance Use Disorder Among Army Veterans: Treatment & Recovery

Due to the work they perform, service members from all branches of the United States military face unique challenges that their civilian counterparts typically do not. These challenges put Veterans at higher risk for turning to drugs and/or alcohol to cope with the effects of those experiences, as well as developing certain mental health conditions. This is reflected in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health’s survey on Veterans, where it is reported that 1.4 million Veterans aged 18+ had both a substance use disorder and a mental illness in 2022.¹

This article will provide more information on drug and alcohol addiction among army Veterans, the risk factors associated with substance use in this population, and treatment options and resources for Veterans who are in need of professional help.

Drug & Alcohol Use Among Army Veterans

Service members make sacrifices and risk their lives every day to maintain the rights that we as Americans value and honor. Unfortunately, these sacrifices are often accompanied with long-term impacts on Veterans’ physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. In many cases, Veterans may look to cope with their experiences, regulate their emotional reaction to military stress, or manage pain related to injuries sustained in combat with the use of drugs and alcohol.² 

The previously mentioned NSDUH Veterans’ report shows that in 2022, nearly 12 million Veterans misused alcohol within the last month, representing 57% of this specific population.¹ Additionally, Veterans also engaged in the misuse of the following substances within that same time period (respectively):¹

• Marijuana (2.8M)
• Cocaine (140k)
• Prescription tranquilizers and sedatives (97k)
• Hallucinogens (87k)
• Heroin (80k)
• Prescription pain relievers (80k)
• Methamphetamine (67k)
• Prescription stimulants (48k)
• Inhalants (33k)

In addition to the general misuse of alcohol and the substances listed above, it was also reported that 4.6 million of the nearly 12 million Veterans who misused alcohol in 2022 were engaged in binge drinking.¹ What defines binge drinking is women consuming four or more drinks and men consuming five or more drinks within a span of roughly two hours.³

Risk Factors for Substance Use Disorder in the Army

Based on the information provided above, it is obvious that many Veterans struggle with the misuse of drugs and alcohol after they have completed their time in the service. While combat exposure is typically the first thing that comes to most people’s minds when they think about military stressors, there are other factors in military culture and lifestyle that also contribute to this stress. These often include:²

• Being injured or hospitalized while deployed.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
• Recurring sleep disturbances that prevent restful sleep.
• Pain disorders related to combat or service-related injuries.
• Adjusting to life when returning from combat.
• Adjusting to life as a civilian once permanently discharged or retired.

In addition to these stressors, some additional factors can also contribute to drugs and alcohol misuse among Veterans. These factors include:⁴

• Being male.
• Being between the ages of 18 and 25.
• Having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or another mental health disorder.

Army Veteran Addiction Treatment Options & Resources

The VA provides various treatment options for Army Veteran addiction treatment to address Army Veteran substance use disorder, including brief interventions by medical professionals, residential and outpatient treatment, and specialty programs that address both mental health and substance use in the Veteran population.⁶ Additionally, they offer preventative care, such as utilizing screening tools during medical appointments to identify potential issues with substance misuse and to provide early intervention.⁴

Addiction Treatment Options for Army Veterans

 In 2004, the VA and the DoD formed the Evidence-Based Practice Work Group, which informs the VA system on the most effective ways to approach and treat various substance use disorders, which often includes a combination of pharmacological and psychiatric approaches.⁷ As a result, the VA system continues to provide a wide range of services and levels of care based on the patients’s need and willingness to engage in services.⁴ Some of these include the following:⁶

• Medical detox.
• Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD).
• Residential addiction treatment.
• Intensive outpatient addiction treatment programs.
• Outpatient addiction treatment programs.

The VA also offers self-help groups, marriage and family counseling, relapse prevention, mental health counseling, and speciality programs (including for female Veterans, homeless Veterans, and Veterans returning home from combat).⁶ 

VA Rehab for Drug & Alcohol Addiction Treatment

In order for a Veteran to access these types of services through the VA, they must meet the qualification criteria to access services and be registered with the VA in order to receive VA Healthcare.⁸ If you are a Veteran and you have not applied for VA Healthcare, you can apply online, in person at your local VA center, by phone, or by mail. Click here for more information.

We encourage you to call our informed, compassionate team of admissions navigators at American Addiction Centers at right now.  They can gather the right information from you that can help them connect you to treatment providers who not only accept VA Healthcare, but who can also address your own personal treatment needs.

Start Your Recovery Today

At American Addiction Centers, we are proud to offer a programming option for Veterans of the Armed Services called Salute to Recovery. Individuals enrolled in this program will receive customized addiction and mental health care that meets their unique needs. This programming is available at the following locations:

• Greenhouse Treatment Center in the Grand Prairie, TX
• Desert Hope Treatment Center in Las Vegas, NV
• Oxford Treatment Center in Etta, MS
• River Oaks Treatment Center in the Riverview, FL

Using drugs and alcohol to cope with the high levels of stress experienced while serving in the military is a common response, but healing and living a life of sobriety is possible. 

If you or a loved one has served in the Army and are misusing alcohol or drugs, help is available. Call us at so you can speak with our admissions navigators who can answer any questions you have about seeking treatment for Army alcohol addiction and other substance use disorders. 

Call today to learn more about what to expect, how much treatment will cost, and how to get started. You don’t have to do this alone; our navigators are here to support you as you get started on the road to recovery. You can even begin the process right now by filling out the form below to have your insurance verified.