Drug & Alcohol Treatment for Active Duty & Veterans

Addiction & Mental Health Treatment Programs for Veterans and Active Duty Military 

Our nation’s military members and their families demonstrate to the civilian population what it means to be an American. Their patriotism and sacrifice ensure that all of us can kiss our loved ones goodnight and not worry about their safety. That can be easy for civilians to take for granted since the only firsthand knowledge of war was a dark September day that forever changed the course of history. 

The last twenty years and beyond demonstrate the dedication, sacrifice, and perseverance for our extended military family. From the Hindu Kush’s snowcapped peaks to the sand-blown cities of Anbar, our service members have shown America and the world what bravery truly is. The entire AspenRidge team thanks you for your tireless service and dedication to our grateful nation.

We proudly accept TriCare and TriWest, and offer affordable cash pay rates

In the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, about 10% of returning Veterans seen by the VA have a problem with alcohol or other drugs. VA studies also show War Veterans with PTSD and alcohol problems tend to binge drink. Binge drinking is when a person drinks a lot of alcohol (4-5 drinks or more) in a short period of time (1-2 hours). For more information about casual drinking versus binge drinking, you can read our blog on the topic link here. 

In the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, about 10% of returning Veterans seen in VA have a problem with alcohol or other drugs. According to the Watson Institute of International & Public Affairs at Brown University, 2.7 million service members have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. Although SUD can be a taboo topic filled with shame, if you’re struggling with an addiction, 270,000 of your fellow Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines are also suffering. You are not alone and there is help.  

Substance use disorder is challenging to overcome, but we’re here to help. Our licensed clinicians use evidence-based treatment modalities that can help you get clean sober, and live a more fulfilling life. If you’re ready to confront your problem, AspenRidge is ready to develop a personalized treatment program to fit your needs. Our counselors and therapists provide therapeutic options such as trauma therapy and neurofeedback, as well as a host of other proven treatments. We are also experienced and knowledgeable in addressing Military substance abuse. 

Veterans and Suicide

When our service members return home, even those without the physical wounds of war often suffer from the psychological effects of combat. It’s sometimes easier for servicemembers to reach out for help to obtain a new limb or relearn how to walk than it is to ask for help with post-traumatic stress disorder. It’s important to member that you are not alone. According to the Veteran Administration’s  2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, an excess of 6,000 Veterans commit suicide each year since 2008. In addition to the Veteran suicides, there were 919 suicides among never federally activated former National Guard and Reserve members in 2017, an average two and a half suicide deaths per day. According to the VA’s National Center for PTSD, 11-20% of military members who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have PTSD in a given year.

AspenRidge Recovery’s Relationship with Veterans

AspenRidge Recovery is an organization led by West Point graduate and OEF Veteran Kevin Werner. Werner served as Scout Platoon Officer in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, in 2012.  As a veteran himself, he’s witnessed the effects of war on his friends and colleagues. We’re proud to have Kevin at the helm of our organization, and we share his passion for treating our nation’s Servicemen and women.   

Our Lead Clinician in Colorado Springs, Kellyanne Achramowicz, comes from a long line of service members, and her partner, David, in an honorably discharged Navy E3. Kellyanne has years of experience in treating Veterans and Military Families. Kellyanne is a dually licensed therapist who’s trained in the latest trauma treatment modalities such a Brainspotting.

AspenRidge’s Discreet, Off Post Treatment Programs

AspenRidge Recovery operates four locations throughout Colorado. We help offer support during a critical time and our certified clinicians address Military substance abuse by taking a dual diagnosis approach. If you or someone you care about is struggling with PTSD or addiction, contact AspenRidge Recovery Colorado Springs at (719) 220-8730. 

In House Transitional Program

AspenRidge Recovery offers a 90-day treatment program (in house transitional program) in Colorado with recovery residences for adults suffering from mental health, complex trauma, and substance use disorders. We take a phased approach to treatment, where our clients begin with a highly structured 30-hours of therapy a week program focused around mental health and trauma-based therapies and interventions. As our clients move through our phases, we bring a focus to life skills where our Alumni Coordinator leads workshops on things like resume building, budgeting, and sober living options. While clients are with us, they have access to psychiatry services and neurofeedback. Neither is required, but both are available on-site.

While a client is living in our houses, they will attend community meetings five to six days a week to provide a community of recovered persons. They also participate in house meetings three times a week, visit a gym three to four times a week, and grocery shop once a week.

Benefits of In House Transitional Programs

There are a variety of benefits to choosing this addiction treatment option. For example:

• IHTP provides the perks of both an outpatient treatment and inpatient treatment.
• IHTP can act as a stepping stone between residential treatment and outpatient treatment. You can rely on structure and accountability; however, you also don’t have to feel trapped in an inpatient residential treatment center.
• You don’t have to put your life on hold. One problem with a residential treatment is that you can’t go to work, home, or school. The only time you see your family is if they come to visit you.

Clients spend a considerable amount of time in therapy in any addiction treatment program. You don’t have to give this up by seeking a less intense treatment. You can still learn the coping mechanisms and find the root cause of your addiction in house transition program treatment.

Intensive Outpatient Program 

Everyone’s journey to recovery is different. Because substance use disorder is varying, complex, and often accompanied by underlying mental health struggles, treatment should be customized for each individual. For some people, inpatient treatment is the most appropriate. For others, an Intensive Outpatient Program is a better fit. AspenRidge Recovery offers IOP in all four Colorado locations for those that want freedom from addiction while maintaining employment and social obligations.

Intensive outpatient rehab or IOP in Colorado is an excellent choice for individuals who need flexibility with scheduling and locations to find the help they need to recover. Individuals completing IOP see significant increases in quality of life within their community and family. They are better able to manage their medications and maintain employment, all while keeping their recovery intact.

What to Expect from our Intensive Outpatient Program 

While the quality of treatment doesn’t differ between residential and our intensive outpatient program, there are significant differences in how the treatment is acquired. Rather than enter a facility and live there usually at least 28-days while treated, in IOP patients come to a facility around their schedule for a few hours a week. Our IOP in Colorado allows individuals seeking treatment for addiction, mental health, and trauma to remain engaged in their daily lives. For many individuals, daily commitments can’t be put on hold. Also, the support of friends, family, and the stability of work helps keep them in control, making treatment more effective. Early intervention through an intensive outpatient program Colorado improves not just work productivity but an individual’s quality of life.

At AspenRidge Recovery’s intensive outpatient program you can expect:

• 10 hours of therapy each week
• Psychiatry and medication management/MAT services
• Recovery support services
• Evening group hours
• Case management
• Family sessions

While patients attend IOP, they will have access to a variety of addiction therapies. We design each of our therapeutic options in consultation with patients to fit their specific needs. Some of these therapies include:

• Group Therapy
• Individual therapy
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy
• EMDR Therapy
• Brainspotting
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• Stress management and balanced-life skills.

At the same time, they’ll develop techniques for rebuilding trust with partners and family as well as repairing the damage done due to addiction to their interpersonal relationships. As patients move through recovery, they develop a plan for aftercare. This involves self-care strategies as well as those to help maintain stability during times of vulnerability. Doing so reduces the risk of relapse and contributes to building and participating in a supportive recovery community.

AspenRidge offers dual diagnosis treatment programs. Our clinicians are trained to treat both mental health, trauma, and PTSD as well as substance abuse. This treatment is vital for many people in recovery. According to research from SAMHSA, 9.2 million American adults struggled with mental health problems and a substance use disorder in 2018. Military substance abuse has become more prevalent. 

Why do these issues so often coincide? The cause differs from person to person. Some people use substances to help regulate their mental illness. For example, a person who uses benzodiazepines such as Xanax to control their anxiety can quickly end up addicted to the medication.

Alternatively, some substances cause mental illnesses. Amphetamine abuse can lead to substance-induced bipolar disorder, depression, or amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder. Substance abuse can also increase your mental illness symptoms. In some cases, addiction can cause additional marks of mental illness to appear.

What is an Intensive Outpatient Program?

Our IOP program is a six to twelve-week long, and our focus is to create an environment for therapy where you can process your concerns. You can then get the support you need to manage your recovery as you integrate into your daily routine.

We have designed this particular program to help you meet and overcome the challenges with recovery. We can help you reconnect with your family and friends. We also help you rebuild the trust that addiction has damaged. Military substance abuse can weigh heavily, but our treatment modalities are tailored to specific needs for every client. 

Topics addressed include:

• How to manage stress and balance your life
• Changes in your self-concept and exploring your purpose
• How to cope with your underlying mental health issues
• How to repair your relationships
• What your core beliefs are, and how they perpetuate substance abuse
• How to forgive yourself and build self-confidence
• What your root causes of addiction are, and how to create a sober identity
• How to manage self-care and maintain stability during change and vulnerability

Each of these topics is essential to helping you stay sober and treat trauma. Without addressing these topics, you may find yourself floundering when significant obstacles come your way. However, with the proper support system, you can rise and overcome these obstacles. Our passion is to help you make sobriety an integral part of your daily life. We can help you develop coping skills during one or more of our addiction therapy programs. These therapy programs may include:

• Trauma therapy: Get to your addiction’s root cause and begin the healing process after trauma during this program.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy: This therapy is useful for identifying and altering negative behavior patterns.
• Dialectical behavior therapy: Using this therapy, you can regulate your emotions, tolerate distress, and communicate effectively with others.
• Brainspotting: This technique is commonly used to identify and treat past trauma and has great success in the treatment of PTSD. 
• Family therapy: Through this therapy, you can rebuild your broken relationships and learn to communicate better with your loved ones.

These therapy options can be part of your individualized treatment. As part of our addiction treatment programs, we also offer dual diagnosis treatment in our community intensive outpatient program. Mental illness and addiction often appear together. Sometimes addiction causes mental illness. Other times mental illness causes addiction.

In both cases, it is critical to get treatment for both disorders at the same time. That is where a dual diagnosis program can be helpful. Dual diagnosis programs allow us to treat these problems simultaneously for those who suffer from both an addiction and a mental illness.

Military Substance Abuse Support: Contact AspenRidge Today

Military substance abuse and addiction prevention begin with identification, diagnosis, and treatment. Are you ready to take the next step in your recovery process? If so, it’s time to contact AspenRidge Recovery. We treat a variety of addictions, including:

• Alcohol addiction
• Prescription pills addiction
• Marijuana addiction
• Heroin addiction
• Cocaine addiction

At each of our locations across Colorado, we hired an experienced and proactive clinical expert staff. Contact AspenRidge today to get insurance verification for our treatment programs. To learn more about our Military substance abuse treatment programs, contact us at (719) 220-8730 today.