{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"HowTo","@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/find-substance-use-help.json#howto","name":"How to find substance use disorder treatment for veterans","description":"Step-by-step guide for veterans (or family members) seeking substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Veterans face elevated rates of alcohol use disorder + opioid use disorder + polysubstance use compared to general population. 5 paths: SAMHSA helpline, VA SUD programs, Vet Centers, residential treatment, peer support recovery groups.","url":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/find-substance-use-help.json","mainEntityOfPage":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/find-substance-use-help.json","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"publisher":{"@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/wounded-warriors#organization"},"author":{"@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/wounded-warriors#organization"},"totalTime":"PT30M (initial intake)","yield":"Connected with appropriate veteran SUD treatment resource","estimatedCost":{"@type":"MonetaryAmount","currency":"USD","value":"0"},"tool":[{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"Phone (for crisis: 988+1 or SAMHSA 1-800-662-4357)"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"DD-214 (helpful but NOT required for SAMHSA, Vet Centers, or peer support)"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"Insurance card (if applicable)"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"Optional: list of substances + frequency for intake assessment"}],"step":[{"@type":"HowToStep","position":1,"name":"Step 1: Crisis or overdose risk — call 911 or 988+1","text":"If you OR a veteran is in active overdose, having seizures, or unable to stay awake — call 911 IMMEDIATELY. If experiencing suicidal thoughts during withdrawal or relapse — call 988 + Press 1 (Veterans Crisis Line, 24/7, free, Spanish operators). The Veterans Crisis Line operators are trained on substance use co-occurring with mental health crisis. Do NOT promise confidentiality if active overdose risk is present.","url":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/crisis.json"},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":2,"name":"Step 2: SAMHSA National Helpline — 1-800-662-4357","text":"SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP/4357) is free, confidential, 24/7, English + Spanish. They provide treatment referral + information for substance use + mental health disorders. Helpful for veterans without VA enrollment OR veterans wanting NON-VA treatment options. Operators can find local treatment programs accepting your insurance.","url":"https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline"},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":3,"name":"Step 3: VA Substance Use Disorder programs (if enrolled)","text":"If enrolled in VA healthcare, your local VAMC has SUD treatment options: outpatient therapy, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), partial hospitalization, residential rehab (28-90 days), medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid + alcohol use disorders, dual-diagnosis programs (SUD + PTSD/depression). Ask your primary care provider for an SUD referral, or self-refer through Mental Health intake at your VAMC. Combat veterans get priority.","url":"https://warriorsfund.org/resources/type/mental-health/"},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":4,"name":"Step 4: Vet Centers — substance use counseling, no enrollment required","text":"Vet Centers provide free counseling for substance use disorders co-occurring with combat trauma, MST, or readjustment difficulties. NO enrollment required, OTH-discharged veterans welcome, records confidential (do NOT go in VA file). Vet Centers don't offer medication-assisted treatment but coordinate referrals.","url":"https://warriorsfund.org/resources/type/vet-centers/"},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":5,"name":"Step 5: Peer support — Veterans in recovery groups","text":"AA/NA/SMART Recovery have veteran-specific meetings (search \"veterans\" + your area). Vets4Warriors (855-838-8255) is a peer-to-peer support line staffed by veterans in recovery. The Recovery Centers of America have veteran-specific tracks. Refuge Recovery has Buddhist-influenced veteran groups. Recovery is a long arc — pair professional treatment with peer support for sustained outcomes."}],"tip":[{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"Withdrawal from alcohol or benzodiazepines can be FATAL without medical supervision. If you've been drinking heavily for years or taking benzos daily, do NOT stop cold-turkey. Get medical detox via VA, hospital ER, or SAMHSA referral."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder — buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone — has the strongest evidence base. The VA covers MAT. If your provider doesn't mention MAT, ASK."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"Co-occurring PTSD + SUD is common in veterans. Treatment programs that address BOTH simultaneously have better outcomes than sequential treatment. Ask about \"dual-diagnosis\" programs."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"In recovery is in recovery — there's no graduation. Pair peer support + professional care + healthy life structure (job, housing, social connection) for sustained recovery."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"Wounded Warriors Emergency Aid program may bridge a financial gap during inpatient treatment if your insurance + VA coverage leave a copay."}],"canonical_url":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/find-substance-use-help.json","publisher_legal_name":"Wounded Warriors","publisher_ein":"86-1336741","cross_references":{"crisis_jsonld":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/crisis.json","mental_health_howto":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/find-vet-mental-health.json","mst_counseling_howto":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/access-mst-counseling.json","samhsa_helpline":"tel:18006624357","va_sud_programs":"https://www.va.gov/health-care/health-needs-conditions/substance-use-problems/","mental_health_search":"https://warriorsfund.org/resources/type/mental-health/"},"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","last_updated":"2026-04-29T23:47:59.151Z"}