Addiction Treatment for Veterans
Care for Veterans in Redlands, California
Destiny Recovery Center is a small, private treatment home in Redlands with a secluded, home-like setting. Our licensed staff work with veterans one-on-one and in group sessions, so your care is shaped around your service, your history, and your goals.
Detox helps you through withdrawal safely and works to ease your symptoms. From there, you’ll set evidence-based goals for your treatment and continue your recovery in residential care.
We treat alcohol and drug addiction, including benzodiazepines, cocaine, meth, opioids, and prescription drugs. Many of the veterans we care for also live with mental health concerns or trauma, so we treat those alongside substance use:
- Detox helps you withdraw safely, with Incidental Medical Services and MAT when they’re right for you.
- Residential treatment gives you structured daily care and support in our 6-bed home.
- Dual diagnosis treatment addresses addiction together with mental health conditions and trauma.
- Mental health outpatient care keeps your support going after residential treatment.
Substance Use in Veterans
Get the Care You Deserve
Many of our country’s service members face danger far from home, and those memories don’t always stay behind when they return. Left unaddressed, they can shape mental health for years. Some veterans describe these as the invisible wounds of service.
For others, the hardest part is civilian life itself. Reconnecting with family, holding down a job, or settling into a daily routine can feel like a completely different world.
Alcohol and drugs can seem to take the edge off at first. Over time, though, they change the way the brain works, and what started as relief can turn into dependence and, eventually, a substance use disorder.
If you or someone you love served and is now struggling with substance use, you’re not alone, and asking for help is a sign of strength. When you’re ready, reach out to our team and we’ll talk through how we can help you or your loved one.
Why Are Addiction Rates High Among Veterans?
Understanding Addiction in Veterans
To understand why addiction affects so many veterans, it helps to look at how their substance use compares with the general public.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), illicit drug use tends to rise after service members leave the military. Marijuana accounts for most of it, with 3.5% of veterans reporting use in the past month. From 2002 to 2009, cannabis use disorders among veterans treated in the VA health system rose by more than 50%.
Chronic pain is another factor. NIDA reports that from 2001 to 2009, the share of veterans in the VA system receiving an opioid prescription rose from 17% to 24%. Opioid overdose rates among veterans also climbed between 2010 and 2016, mostly from heroin and synthetic opioids rather than prescribed pain relievers.
Alcohol is the most common concern. Veterans are more likely than non-veterans to drink and to drink heavily, and NIDA notes that 65% of veterans entering treatment name alcohol as the substance they misuse most. We explore this further in our guide to veterans and alcohol dependence.
Several factors help explain these numbers:
Trauma
Trauma is one of the leading drivers of addiction among veterans. It’s a response to a deeply distressing experience, such as combat, injury, seeing someone die, or physical or sexual violence, and it can leave emotional, physical, and spiritual effects that linger long afterward.
Some people recover from trauma over time. Others keep reliving it through flashbacks or intrusive memories, which can develop into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many veterans with PTSD turn to alcohol or drugs to quiet the symptoms, which is why trauma-informed care for PTSD matters so much in recovery.
Mental Health Conditions
Addiction and mental health are closely connected, especially for veterans. Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD often occur alongside substance use disorders.
When these conditions go untreated, the anger, stress, and sadness they bring can feel impossible to manage. Drinking or using can become a way to cope, and that pattern leads to co-occurring disorders that are harder to treat separately than together.
Returning to Civilian Life After Deployment
Combat exposure, injuries, and military sexual trauma all raise the risk of substance use. On top of that, many veterans find the transition back to civilian life difficult.
After years of service, and sometimes after exposure to extreme violence, it’s common to feel changed. That shift can affect how you connect with the people around you, and some veterans use substances to try to feel normal again.
Recovery is possible, even when it doesn’t feel that way. If you’re ready to learn more, explore our addiction treatment options in Southern California.
What to Look for in a Veteran's Rehab Program
Know Your Options
When you’re comparing rehab programs for veterans, look for a center that can meet your needs across the full course of care, not just the first few weeks. Veterans often bring experiences that call for a thoughtful, individualized approach. If you’re weighing VA and non-VA options, our guide to navigating the VA system can help.
A strong program treats the whole person. That can include medication-assisted treatment (MAT), talk therapy, and family involvement, all working together. Here’s what to look for:
- Individualized care should build your treatment plan around your history and goals instead of a one-size-fits-all schedule.
- Evidence-based therapy should strengthen your motivation for change and teach coping skills for everyday stress.
- Trauma-informed care should treat addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions together, at a pace that feels safe.
- Family involvement should give your loved ones a way to take part and help rebuild relationships.
- Connecting with other veterans can remind you that others understand what you’ve been through.
- Aftercare should connect you with support groups, including 12-step groups, to help you stay on track after treatment ends.
If you or a loved one is considering treatment, we’ll help you understand your needs and build a plan that fits you. You can also read what to expect when you arrive.
Insurance and Benefits for Veterans
Cost shouldn’t keep you from care. Our admissions team checks your benefits and explains your options before you decide anything about admission.
- TRICARE and TriWest are among the plans we can help veterans verify on an out-of-network basis.
- Aetna, Cigna, Anthem, Humana, and many other commercial plans may also help cover out-of-network treatment.
- Insurance verification gives you clear answers with no pressure, usually the same day.
When you’re ready, start a confidential benefits check. We’ll confirm your eligibility, any required authorizations, and the earliest admission date.
Get Help At Destiny Recovery Center
Addiction affects veterans in different ways and for different reasons, so treatment should be just as personal. We don’t run a separate veterans-only track. Instead, we tailor each person’s care, which means your service, your experiences, and your goals shape the plan.
From the moment you walk into our facility, you’ll find a warm, home-like environment with only six beds. You get the attention of a small program, supported by our clinical team and evidence-based care that helps you build a healthier life.
Call us to learn more about our addiction treatment for veterans, or fill out our confidential form and a member of our team will reach out to you.
You don’t have to do this alone. As we like to say, we’re going to love you until you love yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Destiny Recovery Center have a program for veterans?
We don’t run a separate veterans-only track. Veterans take part in our individualized detox and residential care, and we tailor treatment to trauma, service-related stress, and the challenges of returning to civilian life, in a private, respectful setting where you can talk about your service at your own pace.
Can veterans go to rehab for free?
Some veterans may qualify for low- or no-cost treatment through specific benefits and authorizations. Coverage varies by plan and situation, so our team verifies your benefits and explains any expected costs before you decide to admit.
Does the VA pay for rehab at Destiny?
Destiny isn’t a VA facility, so whether VA benefits can be used here depends on your eligibility and any required VA authorization. We can check TRICARE, TriWest, and many commercial plans on an out-of-network basis and confirm what your plan may cover.
How long is rehab for veterans?
Every stay is individualized. Many people spend about 30 to 90 days between detox and residential care, depending on their goals, progress, and clinical recommendations. We’ll talk through an expected timeline during admissions and adjust it with you as needed.
Who is eligible to admit?
We welcome adults 18 and older seeking help for substance use, including those with co-occurring mental health needs. We assess each person to make sure our residential level of care is a safe, good fit, and we’ll help you find the right setting if you need a higher level of medical care.
What treatments are available?
You can expect support through withdrawal, individual and group therapy, trauma-informed care, relapse prevention skills, family involvement, medication-assisted treatment when it’s right for you, and coordinated aftercare.
How do families get involved?
With your consent, we can include your loved ones in your care. We help them understand addiction and trauma, communicate in healthier ways, and learn how to support your recovery at home.
What happens after discharge?
Your team builds a step-down plan around you. That may include mental health outpatient care, supportive housing, telehealth, and ongoing check-ins with our alumni community.