http://retreataddictioncenters.com/ Soldiers put their lives on the line to serve their country. Unfortunately, too many return home saddled with physical injuries, emotional trauma, and the wrong set of skills to succeed in the civilian world. A significant percentage resort to drugs and alcohol in order to cope. More than ever, our veterans need advanced and compassionate substance abuse care.

2. • Substance abuse among veterans is
a growing problem. Currently, an
estimated 19% of combat veterans
receiving VA care suffer from
alcoholabuse or drug addiction
issues.1
• One study of active duty personnel
revealed that substance abuse and
depression rates have increased in
recent years.2
• The suicide rate among veterans is
also high, up to 50% higher than
the civilianpopulation,according
to one recent study.3

3. • Many veterans turn to drugs or
alcohol in order to:
• Ease their physical pain
• Escape from unwanted feelings
• Avoid traumatic memories
• Fill the gap left by a lost sense
of purpose
• Cope with a difficult transition
to civilian life
• Relieve a sense of boredom
• The decision to use drugs or alcohol
may be voluntary at first, but often
develops into Substance Use
Disorder (SUD).

4. • Mental illnessis the leading cause of substance abuse
problems among veterans.
• On the whole, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistancaused
more psychologicalcasualties than physical injuries.4
• Up to 50% of returning soldiers report symptoms of a
mental illness, and 30% report symptoms of Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).5

5. • It’s not unusualfor veterans to suffer from PTSD and Substance Use Disorder at the
same time. Calledco-occurring disorders, they require simultaneoustreatment.
• 1 in 10 veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have a substance abuse
problem.
• 1 out of 5 veterans with PTSD also suffer from Substance Use Disorder.
• 1 out of 3 veterans who seek treatment for Substance Use Disorder already
suffer from PTSD.6

6. • People who suffer from trauma often self-
medicate. That’s because PTSD can:
• Make people feel emotionallynumb
• Isolate them from others
• Give rise to irritability,anger, or depression
• Lead to sleep disorders
• Cause avoidancebehaviors

7. • Since Substance Abuse Disorder often
appearsalongside PTSD or
depression, treatment centers must
be able to treat co-occurring
disorders.
• Typically,treatment optionsinclude:
• Cognitive processing therapy
• Individual andgroup counseling
• Medications
• Holistic therapy (yoga, skills
classes, exercise, animalcare, etc.)
• Career counseling

8. • At Retreat Premier Addiction
Treatment Centers, recovery
often starts with inpatientdetox
and ends with ongoing
outpatientrehab.
• Veterans who enter our safe and
comfortable facilities will find:
• Medicallysupervised detox
programs
• Individual andgroup therapy
• Medicationmanagement
• Holistic therapy

9. • Clinical treatment is often necessary, but
research shows that veterans also benefit from
non-discursive methods of treatment.
• In addition to expert psychological counseling,
we also offer holistic treatment, which includes:
• Culinary classes
• Music therapy
• Yoga
• Gardening
• Art therapy
• Recreational therapy
• Massage therapy
• Equine-assisted psychotherapy

10. Retreat Premier Addiction Treatment Centers provide comprehensive,
multi-disciplinarytreatment for substance abuse disorders. Our team of
substance abuse counselors, nurses, and psychologists exercise tireless
dedicationto all of our patients. With skill and compassion, we help
veterans regain their independenceand their hope for the future. Visit
retreataddictioncenters.comtoday.

11. 1. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/m
ilitary/guest-voices/sd-me-landis-
homelessness-20170209-story.html
2. https://nvf.org/veteran-substance-abuse-
statistics/
3. https://nvf.org/veteran-suicide-
prevention-numbers/
4. http://www.career.fsu.edu/sites/g/files/i
mported/storage/original/application/529
43bcabcb2b0dd8087811316b2b30b.pdf
5. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/m
ilitary/guest-voices/sd-me-landis-
homelessness-20170209-story.html
6. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/problems
/ptsd_substance_abuse_veterans.asp

12. Summary
Soldiers put their lives on the line to serve their country.
Unfortunately, too many return home saddled with physical injuries,
emotional trauma, and the wrong set of skills to succeed in the civilian
world. A significant percentage resort to drugs and alcohol in order to
cope. More than ever, our veterans need advanced and
compassionate substance abuse care.