Veteran addiction treatment is specialized substance use care that addresses military trauma, PTSD, and reintegration challenges alongside the addiction itself. LACATC delivers this care in Encino as part of our full continuum of addiction treatment programs at LACATC in Los Angeles. Treatment is led by staff who understand service because they have lived it.
Why do veterans face a higher risk of addiction?
Veterans face a higher risk of addiction because combat exposure, chronic pain, and post-traumatic stress create pressure to self-medicate. The Department of Veterans Affairs reports that veterans with PTSD are 2 times more likely to have alcohol problems and 3 times more likely to have drug problems than veterans without PTSD.
4 service-connected risk factors drive substance use in veterans:
- Combat trauma and post-traumatic stress
- Chronic pain from service-related injuries
- Prescription opioid and benzodiazepine exposure
- Isolation during the transition to civilian life
How common is substance use among veterans?
Substance use is common among veterans, and the National Center for PTSD reports that 45% of U.S. adults with PTSD also have drug or alcohol problems. Roughly 10% of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan reported a problem with alcohol or drugs, according to the VA.
Recovery is the mission. We complete it together.
How does LACATC treat PTSD and addiction together?
LACATC treats PTSD and addiction at the same time through integrated dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring disorders in Los Angeles. Treating one condition while ignoring the other leads to relapse, so both are addressed in a single treatment plan.
Core clinical methods include:
- Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy
- EMDR and exposure-based trauma work through trauma-informed therapy for veterans and addiction recovery
- Medication support for withdrawal, cravings, and sleep
- Peer groups made up of fellow veterans
Military identity stays at the center of care. Clinicians frame recovery as mission completion, with clear objectives, accountability, and an after-action plan for life beyond treatment.
What does the veteran treatment program include?
The veteran program includes every level of care, so you move through treatment in one place with one team. Each level is a phase of the same mission.
- Medical detox with 24/7 clinical supervision for safe withdrawal
- Residential treatment in our structured Encino hills facility
- Partial hospitalization (PHP) with full daytime clinical programming
- Intensive outpatient (IOP) built around the return to work and family
- Alumni support and aftercare planning completed before discharge
Length of stay is set by clinical need, not by a fixed calendar. A typical path runs 5 to 10 days of detox followed by 30 to 90 days of residential and step-down care.
PTSD and addiction are treated together, never one at a time.
Does TRICARE or the VA cover treatment at LACATC?
Yes, LACATC accepts TRICARE and VA benefits for veteran addiction treatment. Our admissions team verifies benefits the same day, files the paperwork, and explains your coverage in plain language before you commit to anything.
Coverage pathways include the following: we accept TRICARE insurance for veteran addiction treatment, and community care referrals through we accept VA benefits for veteran addiction treatment. Civilian family members can review all accepted plans with our team.
FAQ
Your service earned you real care, not a waiting list. Call LACATC or begin addiction treatment today at LACATC to verify TRICARE or VA benefits in minutes and start treatment this week.