BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Nov. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of
Veterans Day, American Addiction Centers (AAC) is providing 30 days
of free inpatient care to 10 members of the armed forces who are
struggling with alcohol and/or substance use issues. Beginning
Sunday, November 11, veterans who
call the Veterans Hotline at (888) 902-VETS could be eligible for
care.
"For several years, we've been extending this opportunity to our
nation's heroes," said Michael
Cartwright, CEO of American Addiction Centers. "Due to the
nature of their job, veterans are at a greater risk for addiction
and mental health disorders. They shouldn't come home to another
battle and we're honored to provide treatment to those who have
made great sacrifices serving our country."
This year, AAC took a closer look at the state of veteran's
health to provide a better illustration of the struggles and
challenges of this population. The research compiled by AAC shows
that the greatest factor leading to alcohol and substance abuse
among veterans is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Those who
serve abroad have a much higher likelihood of PTSD or related
mental health conditions than the general public. Studies suggest
that 30 percent of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan returned home with mental health
issues that put them at a higher risk for suicide and
depression.
"From experience, I know that just being exposed to combat and
that environment is hard to handle," said Daniel Higdon, a veteran and director of veteran
services at Solutions Recovery, an AAC treatment center in
Las Vegas. "When you return home,
the change in pace is drastic. It's hard to go from a combat speed
to civilian life. Sometimes, people get lost in their thoughts and
what-if scenarios that can quickly lead to anxiety and depression.
It's a slippery slope and a lot of people turn to alcohol or other
substances to deal with what's going on in their head."
Understanding that mental health conditions and substance use
often go hand in hand, AAC has developed a proprietary program
created to address the unique needs of veterans. The veterans
program, offered at select AAC facilities, takes place in an
environment sensitive to the characteristics of military
culture.
"We have to grasp the sheer magnitude of this problem," said Dr.
Lawrence Weinstein, AAC's chief
medical officer. "We have about 23 million vets in the country
right now - only 50 percent of those who need help with their
mental health and substance use issues get treatment. We're missing
a huge portion of those that we could help."
Providing this assistance to veterans is something that Higdon
takes much pride in.
"This is the least we can do for those who have sacrificed so
much," said Higdon. "There's a path to a better life after serving
and some of our brothers and sisters need help finding their
way."
If you or a loved one is suffering with drug or alcohol
addiction, call (888) 902-VETS.
About American Addiction Centers
American Addiction
Centers (NYSE: AAC) is a leading provider of inpatient and
outpatient substance abuse treatment services. We treat clients who
are struggling with drug addiction, alcohol addiction and
co-occurring mental/behavioral health issues. We currently operate
substance abuse treatment facilities located throughout
the United States. These
facilities are focused on delivering effective clinical care and
treatment solutions. For more information, please find us at
www.AmericanAddictionCenters.org.
Media
Contact:
|
Joy
Sutton
|
|
(615)
587-7728
|
|
JSutton@ContactAAC.com
|
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-addiction-centers-provides-free-treatment-to-veterans-300746934.html
SOURCE American Addiction Centers (AAC)