During and following their service to our nation, members of the armed forces experience things that are unique to being in the military and that can take a significant toll on their well-being, leading to mental illness and addiction in some cases. At Cottonwood in Tucson, Arizona, we are proud to partner with PsychArmor and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Community Care Network to provide Veteran-ready mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
Why Mental Health and Addiction are Treated Together
To put it simply, mental illness and substance use disorders are often found together because they have related causes. In Veterans, causes often include:
- A childhood/adolescence that was full of adversity and led to military enlistment
- Chronic pain and medical issues from combat
- The unique culture of the military, which can increase the stigma around asking for help and encourage unhealthy drinking and other risky behaviors
- Combat-related emotional trauma
- Stress from being separated from loved ones due to relocations and deployments
- Difficulty adjusting to civilian life following discharge
Because substance use disorder and mental illness so often go hand-in-hand, treatment needs to address both issues simultaneously. A particular advantage of dual diagnosis treatment for Veterans, who may feel stigmatized for seeking addiction treatment, is that they can tell people they’re getting help for their mental health.
Treating a substance use disorder without treating co-occurring mental illness or vice versa can be counterproductive because one can set off the other or limit how much healing can occur. When substance use disorders and mental illnesses are not treated together, there is a higher risk of future relapse.
The Most Common Mental Health Diagnoses Among Vets
Between 37-50% of Afghanistan and Iraq War Veterans have been diagnosed with a mental health condition. Veterans are most often diagnosed with these mental health disorders:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Adjustment disorder
When these disorders coincide with substance use, dual diagnosis treatment is the best option.
Veterans and Opioids
It has also been found that if a Veteran has a mental health diagnosis, they are more likely to be prescribed opioids, which are highly addictive painkillers. Vets with PTSD had a 17.8% chance of being prescribed opioids, while those with other mental health disorders had an 11.7% chance. Only 6.5% of Vets without mental health concerns were prescribed opioids. Not only are Veterans with mental health disorders more likely to receive opioids, but they are also at greater risk for becoming addicted and experiencing other negative outcomes associated with opioid use, such as:
- Inpatient and ER visits
- Overdoses
- Violence-related injuries
Veterans whose opioid use was studied weren’t initially seeking out illicit substances. In many cases, Veterans who developed an opioid use disorder were given the medication initially by a doctor following an injury during deployment. Unfortunately, because of how addictive the medications are, particularly when they are coupled with untreated mental health disorders, continued use can lead to addiction.
Barriers to Care
Veterans not only face stigma around substance use and mental health disorders, which can make it more difficult to ask for help, but they also make up around 11% of the homeless population. Around 70% of homeless Veterans struggle with substance use disorders. Not having a home can create added challenges for receiving treatment. Other barriers include fear of negative consequences, gaps in insurance coverage, access issues, and lack of confidentiality.
Increased Suicide Risk
Both mental health disorders and substance use disorders carry an increased risk of suicide. Veterans are at particularly high risk of ending their own lives. Veterans are 1.5 times more likely than non-veterans to kill themselves. Substance use often precedes suicide attempts, and access to firearms increases the chances that an attempt will be fatal.
Treatments We Offer
We offer residential and outpatient treatment for both mental health and substance use disorders. Medical detox is available to help patients safely stop using substances while managing withdrawal symptoms. We also provide acupuncture therapy, an approved treatment for numerous medical, mental health and other issues. We include family members in the treatment process when beneficial.
At Cottonwood, we believe in treating the whole person, including their mind, body, and spirit, as well as ensuring that they have good medical care for all of their needs. If you are a Veteran or know a Veteran who needs treatment, contact us today.
