Veterans face unique challenges when transitioning back to civilian life, and these struggles can sometimes lead to substance use disorders. Factors like military culture, exposure to trauma, chronic pain, and mental health issues often play a role, leaving veterans vulnerable to addiction. Recognizing the signs early and providing the right support is crucial to helping your loved one recover and reclaim their life. One essential resource is veteran’s home care, which offers specialized support tailored to their experiences and needs.

In this blog, we’ll explore the signs of substance use, the risks involved, and how veteran’s home care can play a pivotal role in their recovery journey.

Why Is Substance Use Common for Veterans

Veterans are more likely to develop a substance use disorder than many other segments of the population. Many military experiences set them up for this possible outcome, including the military culture, exposure to extreme stress-related events while serving, post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic pain or mental health issues that stem directly from their time serving.

Veterans often claim to feel isolated from a world that doesn’t understand what they’ve been through, making it difficult for them to feel safe sharing their emotions and experiences with others. Without a proper support network and veteran’s home care plan, many turn to substance use to help them cope.

Seven Signs Your Loved One Might be Abusing Substances

These signs may signal to you and other family members that your loved one is no longer casually using a substance but has developed a substance use disorder.

1. He has an increased desire to use the substance, perhaps even at inappropriate times, such as when he first wakes up or during a grandchild’s school concert.
2. When he does partake in using the substance, he has a harder time quitting before it gets out of control. This can be seen especially in alcohol use by the inability to have just one drink.
3. He’s combining his use of the substance with dangerous behaviors such as drinking and driving.
4. You’ve noticed that he seems to be able to use a lot more than he used to and needs more of it to receive the same high that less used to provide.
5. He’s often sick in the morning or when coming off of a period where he took the substance, indicating that he had more than he should.
6. He’s struggling financially because of the money being spent on his substance, or he’s selling other items to pay for his drug of choice.
7. His relationships with others are changing. Perhaps he’s avoiding long-time friends or has found a new group of companions that support his substance use.

Risk Factors of a Substance Use Disorder

Even if your loved one has a safe home to live in now, a substance use disorder that continues to escalate unchecked can lead to dangerous life-altering consequences. It can lead to trouble in relationships both at home and, if your loved one still works, in his workplace. Those damaged relationships can leave him feeling isolated and lead to more substance use.

Long-term substance use can lead to both physical health issues as well as mental health issues. Some veterans with this disorder end up using all of their funds to support their addiction and become homeless, making them vulnerable to harm from others and the environment.

There is Hope For Recovery with Veteran’s Home Care

Breaking a substance abuse addiction can be hard, and your loved one will need all of the support he can get. While occasionally, some people can simply quit using the substances they are addicted to, most people need a support team that consists of therapists, doctors, and lots of loving supporters.

Having a home provider who specializes in veteran’s home care is a great way to support your loved one through this journey. A veteran’s home care provider will understand and have empathy for your loved one. His provider can help him find other areas in the community that provide veteran’s home care as well.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Veteran’s Home Care in Air Force Academy, CO, please contact the caring staff at Talem Home Care & Placement Services of Colorado Springs, CO, today. Call (719) 639-2663

At Talem Home Care & Placement Services of Colorado Springs, CO, we provide passionate, understanding, and flexible caregivers in Colorado Springs, Air Force Academy, Black Forest, Cimarron Hills, Fort Carson, Gleneagle, Larkspur, Manitou Springs, Monument, Palmer Lake, Perry Park, Rock Creek Park, Security-Widefield, Stratmoor, and Woodmoor and surrounding areas in Colorado.

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Talem Home Care & Placement Services

Talem Home Care and Placement Services is extremely honored to be included as a top 500 franchise system. Talem Home Care strives to be recognized for providing effective, quality, and innovative community-based long-term care and support programs for our patients. We develop select and elite franchise partners who are family and community minded and share our philosophy, values, and partnership approach. We build relationships with our franchisees based on personalized support, shared decision making, and mutual respect

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