For every person who joins this country’s armed forces, it is hoped that in whatever capacity they serve, they will avoid harm at all costs and be able to live healthy lives once their commitment to the Marine Corps, Navy, Army, Air Force, or National Guard is complete. However, for those brave men and women who willingly placed themselves at risk for injury, the wounds of combat are now not the only thing that they need to heal from once they return home.
“Treatment” Became The Problem, Not The Solution
Whether experienced during training, while in combat, following surgery, or as a result of the physical strain that military servicemen and women endure during their time in the military, many active, inactive, and veteran military members struggle with pain. For years, military personnel were given prescription painkillers as a means of alleviating their discomfort so that they could either continue fulfilling their commitment to the armed forces, or go about their day-to-day lives without interruption. However, what is now known is that many military servicemen and women haven’t been overprescribed opioid pain medications, which has left these individuals grappling with addiction and the residual effects of this issue.
According to reports, doctors were not keeping as close an eye as they should have on the men and women they were prescribing these medications to. In fact, some military members have said that they were encouraged to refill their prescriptions every thirty days as opposed to every ninety days like most physicians typically recommend. Over time, this sort of neglect and lack of medical supervision has cost numerous individuals their military careers, quality of life, and even their lives.
Furthermore, because there are new regulations imposed upon prescription medications, those who were/are addicted to opioid medications are turning to abuse of heroin and other illicit substances as a means of getting their fix to get high. As a result, the number of veterans, especially in the San Diego area, who are now suffering from chemical dependency is staggering.
For communities near military bases like Camp Pendleton in Southern California, there has been a huge influx of veterans who are in need of addiction treatment, yet are not able to receive it because of a lack of room for all of the people who require this sort of care. Given this compounding issue, individuals who were once on the frontlines of actual war are fighting a battle against a seemingly inescapable cycle of substance abuse.
Hope and Help Are Available for Opioid-addicted Veterans
What is crucial for military veterans to know, however, is that there are resources available that can help them heal and recover from the pain of opioid addiction. For those who need more intensive and structured care, there are residential treatment programs all across the country that offer specialized treatment for former military members. In fact, these program also typically provide supplemental care for trauma-related concerns and mental health issues that could also be present at the same time. Additionally, there are numerous outpatient treatment options that veterans can access that do not require them to completely put their lives on hold to overcome an addiction to prescription painkillers.
Medications for opioid use disorder include methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Methadone and buprenorphine are opioid medications; naltrexone blocks opioid receptors. A clinician can help select the medication and appropriate treatment setting.
Treatment duration depends on the person’s needs and may be long term. Medication can be used for months or a lifetime; consult the prescriber before stopping it. Counseling and other support can be included in an individual treatment plan.
Comprehensive Treatment Centers has outpatient opioid-treatment locations in San Marcos (Capalina CTC), El Cajon, San Diego, and Chula Vista. Contact the chosen location to confirm available medications, admission requirements, and payment arrangements.