Caring for Our Nation’s Heroes

May is Military Appreciation Month, a time to honor everyone who has served in a branch of the U.S. Military. This month, across America, there is also an effort to raise awareness about mental health disorders. By understanding how these disorders can uniquely affect active-duty members and veterans, those who are suffering can start to see treatment in a new light and begin to heal.

American Addiction Center’s Joy Sutton, Host of “Addiction Talk,” addressed these issues while talking with experts from River Oaks Treatment Center. They lead Salute to Recovery, a specialized treatment program for Veterans. 

“It’s important that we get more policies in place to promote early intervention for service members,” says Dr. Steven Ramos, Assistant Clinical Director.  “We are losing Veterans and service members to addiction and suicide, and we all must do a better job.”

Dr. Ramos served 28 years in the U.S. Air Force and has extensive experience as a Clinical Social Worker, where he treats military service members suffering from Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse.

PTSD is prevalent in active duty and military veterans. Research has found that those with PTSD are 3 times more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. Studies indicate the attempt to “self-medicate” with substances to avoid triggers is a factor that may lead to addiction.

The signs of substance misuse aren’t always obvious at first, but they may appear as:

• Decreased appetite or weight loss.
• Looking sickly, such as bloodshot eyes and paler skin.
• Noticeable changes in behavior.
• Responding angrily or becoming argumentative when asked about substance use.
• A lack of motivation and even poor work performance.
• Changes in spending habits and issues with personal finances.

Dr. Ramos says the key to reducing these cases is to normalize early help-seeking and treatment.“There is a stigma surrounding getting help, and we need to eliminate it, seeking treatment early on will help these men and women be successful in the long term.”

In the military, there are specific risk factors for addiction. They include:

• Combat experiences.
• Psychological distress.
• Military culture.
• Increased risk for injury.

Finding Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders

When someone suffers from both PTSD or another mood disorder in conjunction with a substance use disorder, it’s referred to as a co-occurring disorder (or a dual diagnosis). Co-occurring disorders should be treated simultaneously —mental health and substance dependency—to ensure the best possible outcome regarding recovery.

If you or someone you care for is struggling with a co-occurring disorder and looking for rehab centers near Tampa and specialized care for Veterans, give our admissions navigators a call to help kickstart your recovery .