Sanctuary Treatment Center
Specialized Addiction Treatment for Veterans at Sanctuary Treatment Center
Military service leaves a mark. For many veterans, substance use becomes a way to cope with stress, trauma, sleep disruption, pain, or the difficulty of ransitioning back to civilian life. At Sanctuary Treatment Center, our Veterans Program is designed specifically for men and women whose primary challenge is addiction or substance use, with care that respects military culture, identity, and lived experience.
This program is not generic rehab with a military label added on. It is veteran-informed, addiction-focused care built around trust, structure, accountability, and peer connection.
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Why Veterans Face Unique Addiction Risks
Veterans experience substance use disorders at higher rates than the general population for several well-documented reasons, including:
- Exposure to combat, training accidents, or high-stress operational environments
- Chronic pain or injury leading to prescription misuse
- Sleep disruption and hyper vigilance
- Difficulty reintegrating into civilian roles
- A culture that values self-reliance over asking for help
At Sanctuary, we understand that addiction in veterans is rarely about weakness or lack of discipline. It is often a learned survival response that no longer serves its purpose.
Veterans, Substance Use, and Mental Health: Key
Statistics
Area
Substance Use
Disorder (SUD)
Statistic
~11% of veterans seen in
VA healthcare have a
diagnosed SUD
What This Means in Practice
Addiction is one of the most
common clinical conditions
among veterans receiving care
Alcohol Use
Disorder
Alcohol is the most
frequently diagnosed SUD
among veterans
Drinking often becomes a
primary coping mechanism post-
service
Opioid Use
Disorder
Veterans are nearly 2x as
likely to die from opioid
overdose compared to non-
veterans
Pain treatment and prescription
exposure increase long-term risk
Polysubstance
Use
Many veterans with SUD
meet criteria for more than
one substance
Alcohol combined with opioids or
benzodiazepines is common
PTSD
11–20% of post-9/11
veterans experience PTSD
in a given year
PTSD significantly raises
addiction and relapse risk
Treatment Gap
Many veterans with SUD
never receive specialty
addiction treatment
Barriers include stigma, access,
and self-reliance culture
What Makes Sanctuary’s Veterans Program Different
Our Veterans Program is built for primary substance use treatment, with mental health care integrated as support rather than the main focus.
Veteran-Centered, Addiction-First Care
Treatment is designed around substance use disorders such as alcohol addiction, opioid use disorder, stimulant misuse, benzodiazepine dependence, and polysubstance use. Mental health conditions like PTSD, anxiety, or depression are addressed as they relate
to addiction and relapse risk.
Military-Aware Clinical Team
Our clinicians understand military structure, rank dynamics, operational stress, and the transition to civilian life. Veterans are not asked to explain military culture or justify their experiences.
Peer Connection and Group Cohesion
Veterans often engage more deeply in treatment when surrounded by others who “get it.” Group therapy includes veteran-specific process groups that emphasize accountability, trust, and shared experience.
Structure Without Punishment
The program balances routine and responsibility without replicating punitive systems. Structure is used to support recovery, not control behavior.
Core Components of the Veterans Program
Veterans at Sanctuary receive a comprehensive, evidence-based addiction treatment experience that may include:
- Medically supervised detox when needed
- Individual substance use counseling
- Veteran-specific group therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for addiction
- Relapse prevention and trigger management
- Trauma-informed care related to substance use
- Family involvement when appropriate
- Life skills and reintegration planning
Treatment plans are individualized. No two service histories, or recovery paths, are the same.
Substances Commonly Addressed in Veteran Treatment
Our Veterans Program regularly treats addiction involving:
Neurofeedback therapy is a non-invasive procedure that uses sound and vision to reorganize or retrain the signals of the brain and is used at our treatment centers around Los Angeles, CA. It is a therapeutic intervention that provides immediate feedback from a computer program to assess the client’s brainwave activity. Neurofeedback observes, qualifies, and trains the patient’s brainwaves to help regulate brain function.
The goal is to help the brain reclaim optimal functioning so that it can manage certain mental health issues more efficiently. A therapy session with neurofeedback in Los Angeles can last between 30 and 60 minutes. Sessions may be 2 to 3 times per week. The therapy is safe and painless and does not involve electric “shocks.”
Substances Commonly Addressed in Veteran Treatment
Our Veterans Program regularly treats addiction involving:
- Alcohol
- Opioids, including prescription painkillers and fentanyl
- Stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamine
- Benzodiazepines used for anxiety or sleep
- Polysubstance use
We also help veterans who began using substances after discharge, even years later, as delayed onset addiction is common.
Transitioning From Service to Sustainable Recovery
Leaving the military can mean losing structure, identity, and community all at once. Sanctuary helps veterans rebuild those foundations in a healthy, sustainable way.
Recovery planning focuses on:
- Establishing sober routines
- Managing stress without substances
- Rebuilding purpose and direction
- Connecting to veteran-friendly recovery resources
- Long-term relapse prevention
The goal is not just sobriety during treatment, but stability long after discharge.
You Are Not Weak for Needing Help
Many veterans delay treatment because they believe they should be able to “handle it themselves.” At Sanctuary, we see treatment as a strategic decision, not a failure.
Seeking help is not the opposite of strength. It is often the most disciplined move someone can make.