Operation Agape: Specialized Rehab for Veterans

A rehabilitation program for veterans is a specialized addiction rehabilitation program offering treatment specifically for the unique needs and obstacles faced by military veterans, active duty military personnel, service members, and first responders with substance use disorder, PTSD, or co-occurring mental health conditions.[1]

These programs recognize that military service creates unique risk factors for using substances, including combat, military sexual traumas, chronic pain from service-related injuries, difficulties with the transition to civilian life, and the high-stress culture in the military.

This type of program addresses the specialized needs for a service member, including:

• Individual and group therapies.
• Trauma-informed care with evidence-based treatment like EMDR and cognitive behavioral therapies.
• Medication management for co-occurring disorders.
• Peer support from other veterans who understand military culture.
• Navigating the VA system and health care.

The closest the federal government comes to providing some of these benefits is through programs offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and private treatment facilities that provide services that can be paid for or reimbursed through VA, TRICARE, Medicaid, and commercial insurance.

Operation Agape at Agape Treatment Center is our Veterans Program, specifically designed to support veterans with our individualized treatment for mental health and substance abuse, addressing both the addiction and the underlying trauma, mental health disorder, and adjustment issues common among veterans.

Our veterans program combines evidence-based approaches to addiction with trauma-informed treatment that targets the unique mental health issues of veterans. In contrast to civilian substance use treatment programs that are not designed to manage the needs of service members relative to military culture and service-related trauma, our program was developed with service members in mind.

Trauma-Focused Therapies

Veterans and first responders have endured trauma and injury, and many will also develop a substance abuse problem as a result of these traumatic experiences. In our veterans program, we use several trauma-informed therapies, including:

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Allows the individual with PTSD to process their trauma (combat-related) without having to verbally relive the traumatic experience.
• Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART): Uses eye movements to allow the individual to process their memory with much less delay than is common in traditional therapy.
• Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT): Allows the individual to treat their trauma without having to experience it for an extended period.
• Hypnotherapy: Creates the opportunity for individuals to access their subconscious and resolve deep-rooted trauma that is often much more difficult to confront through conscious processing.

These forms of evidence-based approaches to treating trauma are very helpful to service members who may have difficulty participating in traditional talk therapy.

Addressing Co-Occurring Disorders

Veterans’ substance abuse statistics show very high percentages of service members with co-occurring mental health disorders. The Veterans Program at Agape Treatment Center treats both the substance use disorder and PTSD (experienced by 20% of combat veterans), anxiety, depression, traumatic brain injury (TBI), chronic pain due to service-related injuries, and military sexual trauma.[2] Our integrated behavioral health approach will treat co-occurring disorders simultaneously.

Military-Informed Care and Peer Support

Our staff understands military culture, terminologies, and many of the obstacles service members face with transitioning from military service to civilian life. 

Each service member in our program has access to veteran peer support groups where they meet with veterans who have common experiences. We assist each service member with the admission process for VA benefits, TRICARE, and community referrals.

Creating Your Relapse Prevention Plan

An example of a written relapse prevention plan would be:

• A list of your personal triggers (e.g., internal and external)
• Your warning signs that you are experiencing an emotional or mental relapse
• Coping skills for all of your triggers
• Telephone numbers for all of the people in your support network
• Your motivations for remaining sober
• Your action plan in the event you experience a lapse or a relapse

This written plan will provide you with the “roadmap” you will need when experiencing cravings or being in a high-risk environment.