Will the military know if I went to rehab? If you are a member of the U.S. armed forces, you may be concerned about how your career may be impacted if you seek professional help for a substance use disorder (addiction). Do you have to divulge this information to someone in your chain of command – and if you don’t, can they find out anyway?
Will the Military Know if I Went to Rehab?
In the United States, laws such as the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protect the privacy of individuals who receive care for medical concerns, mental health disorders, and addiction. But this right to privacy is not absolute.
In certain circumstances – such as if you are a member of the U.S. military, your employer may have access to a considerable amount of information about your health, including if you went to rehab. In other words, if you are an active duty member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines, the answer to the question, “Will the military know if I went to rehab?” is yes.
However, it’s important to realize that going to rehab doesn’t mean you will be discharged from the military or punished because you needed help. Also, choosing to seek professional assistance is a much better option than risking your health and your career by continuing to abuse alcohol and other drugs.
Can I Use TRICARE to Pay for Rehab?
Yes, many forms of substance abuse treatment are covered by TRICARE, including most of the program options that we will discuss in the following section, as well as care for co-occurring mental health concerns.
The fact that your TRICARE benefits include funding for various forms of rehab should demonstrate that receiving this type of treatment will not automatically prevent you from continuing your military career.
Addiction Treatment Options for Military Members
When you’re thinking about entering rehab, it’s important to understand the many options that are available to you. The following are examples of the types of programming you can participate in at Nashville Treatment Solutions.
- Detoxification: Also referred to as detox, this is a short-term program that can help you get through withdrawal as safely and with as little discomfort as possible. Detox can be a vital first step for people who have become addicted to alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, and certain other substances.
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP): At the PHP level, you can take part in full days of treatment, five days per week. In the evenings and over the weekend, you can return to your home or to a sober living residence. PHPs can be an ideal level of care if you need extensive therapeutic support, but you don’t require round-the-clock care.
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP): When you’re in an IOP program, you will usually take part in partial days of treatment, two to four days per week. You may enter treatment directly at the IOP level, or you may transfer to this level for step-down support after completing a PHP.
- Outpatient program (OP): Outpatient programming offers the greatest amount of flexibility. At this level, you can schedule sessions that whatever frequency best meets your needs and goals. This can be an excellent source of ongoing support as you advance in your recovery.
- Sober living: If you can benefit from a structured, supervising living environment to help you resist relapse while you’re taking part in outpatient rehab, a sober living residence may be the perfect place for you.
What Happens During Rehab?
Personalized care is a hallmark of effective addiction treatment. This means that your experience in rehab won’t be identical to someone else’s, even if you’re both in the same program.
However, if you receive care at Nashville Treatment Solutions, it’s likely that your time with us will include several or all of the following:
- Intake assessment: A thorough assessment allows your treatment team to collect valuable information about your treatment history and current needs, so they can develop the best plan for you.
- Individualized treatment plan: The details that your treatment team gathers during your assessment will guide the development of your personalized plan. This includes determining which programs, therapies, and services will be most beneficial for you.
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT): This approach combines prescription medication with therapy. The medications that are incorporated into MAT can alleviate drug cravings and other withdrawal symptoms, which can make it easier for you to stop using the drug you had become addicted to.
- Group therapy: Under the guidance of a trained professional, groups can be valuable opportunities to gain important information about addiction and recovery, develop vital relapse prevention skills, and share support with other people who are also working to free themselves from the chains of compulsive substance abuse.
- Family therapy: During family therapy sessions, your loved ones can learn how best to support your recovery efforts, while also processing how they have been impacted by your struggles with addiction.
- Holistic therapy: Therapeutic activities such as yoga, nutrition education, music therapy, and recreational therapy can promote true healing in mind, body, and spirit. These activities can also help you discover new ways of processing your emotions filling the hours that you used to spend acquiring and using substances.
- Discharge planning: Before you transition out of treatment, you should receive a detailed plan to guide your continued progress. This plan may include information about community-based resources and services that can support you in the months and even years to come.
Begin Rehab in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville Treatment Solutions is a trusted source of personalized outpatient care for military members and civilians who have become addicted to alcohol and other substances. We also serve adults whose struggles with addiction are accompanied by certain co-occurring mental health conditions.
With the guidance and support of our experienced treatment team, you can identify the root causes of your addictive behaviors, develop essential relapse-prevention skills, and begin to make the changes that will empower you to achieve a healthier, drug-free future.
When you’re ready to get started, we’re here for you. To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
