Today, in the United States, an estimated 14.5 million individuals ages 12 and older struggle with alcohol abuse or an alcohol use disorder (AUD). These 14.5 million individuals usually include an estimated 9 million men and around 5.5 million women of varying ages, backgrounds, and social standings.

The clinical definition of alcohol use disorder is a chronic medical condition, typically characterized by the impairment to stop drinking or using alcohol on one’s own accord. AUD disorders often begin small, starting with binge drinking patterns, and grow in severity over time, eventually leading to professional, social, financial, and adverse health conditions if not treated. Anyone can develop an alcohol use disorder, including military personnel and veteran individuals.

Unfortunately, an average of two in every ten veterans will struggle with a substance use disorder (SUD) in their lifetime. Alcohol use disorders are often the most common form of substance abuse that active-duty military members and veterans struggle to manage.

The good news is that there is help available for veterans with alcoholism. And there are treatment options out there for everyone who struggles with substance abuse to use in pursuit of recovery.

If you or a loved one struggles with a substance use disorder, addiction, or alcohol abuse issues, there are methods and treatment you can use to help you or your loved one heal. Here are ten ways to find help for veterans who struggle with alcoholism.

First and Foremost, Learn About Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

The definition of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) is relatively straightforward in concept but is often challenging to identify in real life. Individuals struggling with an alcohol use issue will often hide the symptoms of their condition by withdrawing from friends and family who know them well. But this symptom of alcohol abuse is often misinterpreted or hidden well by the individual as they claim the need for more personal space. Or if they claim they have just been tired or busy, thus making it harder to pinpoint when it is indeed growing into an AUD.

So, suppose you want to learn how to help your loved one. In that case, whether veteran or not, you must know some of the basics of the condition to identify it better if it begins to develop into an addiction issue in friends or family members. Some of the most common symptoms of an AUD include:

  • Cutting back on hobbies or loved activities to spend more time drinking
  • Drinking more or for more extended periods than originally intended
  • Consuming large quantities of time recovering from binge drinking or being sick as a result of alcohol use
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not drinking on a constant or near-constant basis
  • Trying to cut back on alcohol use and not being able to stop

Alcoholism develops over time. It is often difficult to identify, especially in individuals who tend to keep to themselves. But, learning about alcohol abuse disorders and their symptoms can better prepare you to help a loved one with an AUD get the help they need to recover.

Second, Open Yourself Up for Communication

Many individuals and veterans who struggle with alcoholism may feel trapped or embarrassed by the struggles of their developing condition. They may feel as though they cannot speak to anyone about their struggles for fear of being judged or even not wanting to admit they have a problem with alcohol use.

One of the best ways you can find help for your loved ones is by being open to communication with them about alcohol abuse and their struggle with alcoholism. Letting your loved one know you would not judge them for struggling with an AUD, even indirectly, can help open up the doors for further treatment avenues down the road.

Third, Prepare Yourself and Be Ready to Intervene

Part of being open to communicating about alcohol use disorders is preparing yourself to talk about alcoholism and how to get help. First, you must let your loved one know that you are a safe space to share information. It would help if you let them know that you are open to talking with them about life and the things they struggle with, but you also have to let them know you are willing to listen.

Once you have established an open line of communication with your loved one, even if they are not entirely receptive to sharing about their condition, you need to be preparing yourself to perform an intervention on their behalf. Interventions are not quite like they seem on television. Yes, an intervention should consist of a solid support network made up of the individuals who care for your loved one the most. But interventions should never have a base in anger or hurt; an intervention is an emotionally fueled event by design. But you ultimately want to lay the foundation for change by:

  • Talking with a healthcare professional to help plan the intervention
  • Gathering a group of solid, supportive friends and family members (the group does not need to be significant in size)
  • Preparing the group as a team for the intervention
  • Designating one individual to lead the intervention
  • Being supportive and encouraging in the intervention
  • Reminding the individual of the consequences of continued alcohol abuse
  • Having each member of the intervention speak about how they can help the individual
  • Presenting treatment options

And from there, wait to see how your loved one will respond. Sometimes an intervention will need to occur on a few occasions to insight change in the individual. But it is important to remember that the best way for an individual to enter into rehab is on their own willing accord.

Fourth, Talk to a Healthcare Professional

One of the best ways to find help for a veteran who struggles with alcoholism is talking to a healthcare professional. Whether you speak to a doctor, a counselor, or another licensed healthcare practitioner, these professionals will be able to give you better insight on how to help your loved one. They will also be able to better guide you through the process of getting your loved one into a verified treatment program for alcoholism.

Fifth, Give Your Loved Veteran Access to an Alcohol Addiction Hotline

Alcohol and drug abuse addiction hotlines exist nationally and internationally. In the United States, the hotlines you use may be a national help center service or based in the state you reside. These hotlines can connect individuals who call in to direct referral services and confidential counselors to assist clients in beginning their recovery journey.

Sixth, Bridging the Gap Between Your Loved One and Addiction Rehab

For individuals struggling with an alcohol use disorder, it is often challenging for them to admit that they have a problem. It is often even more difficult for them to reach out to rehab centers to inquire about rehabilitation services, even after they have admitted they need help. Sometimes one of the best ways to find support for veterans with alcoholism is to bridge the gap between a rehab center and the individual by making the first contact with a treatment facility on behalf of your loved one.

You can ask fundamental questions about the rehab center, what insurance policies they accept, their amenities, how long their programs typically are, and even which types of therapeutic opportunities they usually offer. Once you have this information on hand, you can present it to your loved ones to help ease their nerves and lay a smoother foundation for them entering communication with a rehabilitation facility.

Seventh, Find Out What Insurance Company Covers Your Loved One and Gather Information on Their Substance Abuse Treatment Coverage

Health insurance is difficult to understand for anyone. One of the best ways to find help for your loved one is by talking to their insurance provider. This way, you can determine their insurer’s substance abuse policies, what treatments they may cover, and which services your loved one may be entitled to receive financial assistance.

Many individuals who struggle with drug abuse or alcoholism will refrain from seeking rehab because they believe they will not be able to afford the treatment fees. But all insurance companies hold policies on how much assistance they can provide for substance abuse treatment, many of which will cover essential traditional rehab services. Drug and alcohol rehab is made to be affordable, their main priority being to help individuals work towards recovery and reentering society as productive community members.

As a result, every insurance company holds a set of substance abuse treatment plans. You need to find a rehab center that will work with your loved one’s insurance company so they can begin treatment.

Eighth, Find Information On Additional Rehab Finance Options

Addiction treatment is a chronic disease and has become more affordable due to recent changes in the behavioral health spectrum. But that does not mean that every insurance policy will cover the same amount of treatment services. Depending on the type of insurance policy your loved one holds, the treatments they are looking to receive, and the rehab center they are planning to attend, the amount of coverage they receive may vary. Sometimes, insurance may not be able to cover all of the treatment services your loved one needs.

In this event, it is vital that you know there are additional financial options available to your loved one. You can do more research and find more financial aid options at your disposal by conducting internet searches, talking to rehab facilities about alternative financing options, or asking a healthcare provider about added financing assistance. Individuals who struggle with alcohol use disorders may be eligible to receive extra substance abuse financial assistance through:

  • Addiction scholarships
  • Grants
  • Sponsorships

Ninth, Offer a Guideline of Resource Support

Starting the journey to recovery can seem like a daunting task, even to the most well-prepared individuals struggling with an alcohol or substance use disorder. Their minds, thoughts, and feelings are often unreliable planning operators, and they may not know where to start the search to start their rehabilitation journey. As their loved one, one of the best ways to support your loved one in finding help for addiction treatment is knowing the process of getting started and guiding them through the stages of rehabilitation, even while they are actively in treatment.

Your job as a supporter does not end as soon as your loved one enters rehab. You continue to be a foundational supporter of their success and progress through the entirety of their healing, making sure to act as their encouragers when they have moments of relapse or back-sliding. Your continued support and the reminders you provide to them that they are on the right path can make all the difference in their ongoing work towards rehabilitation.

Tenth, Be a Constant Sober Support to Your Loved One Throughout Recovery

Your support should not end once the one you love one graduates rehab. One of the best ways to find help for veterans with alcoholism is to be their most significant, most constant supports. You can be this continuous source of encouragement by:

  • Agreeing to be a sober buddy for when they go out
  • Deciding to be a confidential listener and hearing them out when they struggle
  • By encouraging them even through the roughest moments in their recovery journey
  • By not drinking around them
  • By showing them and telling them how proud you are of them and their progress through rehab

And so much more. Here at St. John’s Recovery Place (SJRP), we believe in the power of a solid support system. We support our clients as members of our own families as soon as they walk through our doors. We will cry with you, laugh with you, rejoice in every accomplishment, and encourage you through every downfall, even continuing to provide a listening ear and supportive services when you complete your addiction treatment with us.

If you or a loved one struggles with an alcohol use disorder or drug abuse, we are here to support you through the entirety of your recovery journey. If you wish to learn more about how you can find help for a veteran who struggles with an AUD or SUD, or anyone else you may know who is hoping to start their recovery journey, call us today at 1-833-397-3422 to learn more about our treatment services and supports. Recovery is possible! And you are more than capable of beating alcohol use disorders and addiction and becoming the person you want to be again.

References

NIH: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol Facts and Statistics: Alcohol Use in the United States. (2021, June). (2021, June 25).

Medline Plus: Trusted Health Information for You. Alcohol Use Disorder. (2020, August 18). (2021, June 25).

VA: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. PTSD and Substance Abuse in Veterans. (Accessed 2021, June 25).

NIH: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder. (2021, April). (2021, June 25).

United States Office of Personnel Management: OPM. Alcoholism in the Workplace: A Handbook for Supervisors. (Accessed 2021, June 25).

Healthline. Staging an Intervention for an Alcoholic. (2017, December 19). (2021, June 25).

Better Health Channel. Talking to Health Professionals About Drugs, Alcohol, or Addiction. (Accessed 2021, June 25).

Benefits. Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. (Accessed 2021, June 25).

Florida Health. Substance Abuse. (Accessed 2021, June 25).

SJRP. St. John’s Recovery Place. Florida Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center. Home Page. (Accessed 2021, June 25).