For many veterans, the transition from military service to civilian life is one of the most challenging experiences they will ever face. The structure, camaraderie, and sense of purpose that define military service can feel impossible to replicate in civilian life — and for some, that void leads to substance use as a way of coping with the pain.
If you or someone you love is a veteran struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Studies show that veterans are significantly more likely than civilians to develop substance use disorders, largely due to the unique stressors of military service, combat exposure, and the mental health challenges that follow. The good news: effective, veteran-focused treatment is available right here in Sacramento, California.
Why Veterans Are at Higher Risk for Addiction
Understanding why veterans are disproportionately affected by addiction is the first step toward finding the right help. Several factors contribute to this increased risk:
- PTSD and Trauma: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder affects an estimated 20% of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many turn to alcohol or drugs as a way to self-medicate the symptoms — nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, and emotional numbness.
- Chronic Pain: Combat injuries and the physical toll of military service often lead to prescription opioid use, which can develop into dependency and addiction over time.
- Military Culture: Heavy drinking has long been normalized in military culture as a way to bond, celebrate, and cope. This cultural acceptance can make it harder for veterans to recognize when their use has crossed into problem territory.
- Loss of Identity: Leaving the military can feel like losing a core part of who you are. Without the rank, the mission, and the brotherhood, many veterans struggle with depression and purposelessness — both of which increase addiction risk.
The Connection Between PTSD and Substance Abuse
PTSD and substance use disorders frequently occur together — a phenomenon clinicians call a co-occurring disorder or dual diagnosis. Veterans with PTSD are two to four times more likely to also struggle with alcohol use disorder. The relationship is cyclical: trauma leads to substance use, and substance use worsens trauma symptoms, making recovery harder without treating both conditions simultaneously.
At AHVets Addiction Recovery, we understand this connection deeply. Our counselors are trained to address both substance use and the underlying trauma that often drives it — providing truly integrated care for veterans who need more than just detox.
Your Path to Recovery: What the Process Looks Like
Recovery from addiction is not a single event — it is a journey with distinct phases, each building on the last. At AHVets, we walk alongside you through every step:
Step 1: Medical Detox (5–10 Days)
Detox is the process of safely clearing substances from your body under medical supervision. Attempting to detox alone from alcohol or opioids can be life-threatening. At AHVets, our licensed counselors monitor you around the clock in a home-like residential setting, managing withdrawal symptoms and keeping you safe. Detox typically lasts 5 to 10 days depending on the substance and your individual health.
Step 2: Residential Treatment (30–90 Days)
After detox, residential treatment provides the tools you need to understand and address the root causes of addiction. This phase includes individual and group counseling, life skills education, anger management, relapse prevention training, and community reintegration planning. Our 30-60-90 day programs are designed to give you enough time to truly build a new foundation — not just get sober, but learn how to stay that way.
Step 3: Sober Living (Month-to-Month)
Sober living homes provide a structured, drug-free residential environment as you transition back into independent life. These homes bridge the gap between intensive treatment and full independence, providing accountability, peer support, and a safe place to practice the skills you have learned. AHVets sober living homes include daily transport to the Mather VA, utilities paid, and case management support.
How to Access Treatment Through the VA
One of the most common questions we hear from veterans is: “Will the VA pay for this?” The answer is often yes. AHVets is a VA-approved facility, and many veterans qualify for VA coverage of detox and residential treatment services. Here is how to get started:
- Call AHVets at 916-822-4240 — our admissions team can help determine your VA eligibility.
- Contact your local VA Medical Center and ask to speak with a substance use disorder specialist.
- If you are in crisis, the Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7: call 988, then press 1.
You do not have to figure this out alone. Our team handles the paperwork and coordinates with the VA on your behalf so you can focus entirely on getting well.
Recovery Is Possible — We Have Proof
In over 20 years of service, AHVets has helped more than 4,000 veterans reclaim their lives from addiction. Veterans like Tim, who spent 45 years addicted to meth before finding sobriety at AHVets. Or Bryant, who came to us after a decade of battling PTSD and substance abuse following his deployment to Iraq — and who is now pursuing a career as a counselor so he can give back what he received.
Recovery is not about willpower. It is about having the right support at the right time in a setting where you feel understood. That is what AHVets exists to provide.
Ready to take the first step? Call us 24/7 at 916-822-4240 — the most important call of your life starts here.