Key Takeaways
- Los Angeles County has approximately 300,000 veterans, many of whom face unique addiction challenges linked to combat trauma, military culture, and transition difficulties.
- The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System operates multiple facilities offering substance use disorder treatment at no cost to eligible veterans.
- Community organizations supplement VA services with peer support, transitional housing, and wraparound services for veterans in recovery.
- Private treatment centers like Trust SoCal can treat veterans using VA Community Care, TRICARE, or private insurance.
- Dual-diagnosis treatment addressing both PTSD and substance use is critical for veterans, as the two conditions are deeply interconnected.
Understanding Veteran Addiction in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County is home to approximately 300,000 military veterans, one of the largest veteran populations of any county in the United States. These men and women served across eras from Vietnam through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and many carry the invisible wounds of service: post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, moral injury, and chronic pain.
The connection between military service and substance use disorders is well documented. Veterans use alcohol and drugs to manage PTSD symptoms, numb emotional pain, cope with chronic physical pain from service-connected injuries, and ease the difficult transition from military to civilian life. The culture of toughness and self-reliance in the military can also prevent veterans from seeking help.
LA County's veteran population is diverse in every dimension: age, era of service, branch, rank, gender, race, and sexual orientation. Treatment approaches must account for this diversity rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.
VA Treatment Programs in Los Angeles
The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System is one of the largest VA systems in the country, serving veterans across LA and Ventura counties. The system operates multiple facilities that provide substance use disorder treatment.
VA Outpatient Substance Use Programs
The VA operates outpatient substance abuse treatment programs at several locations across LA County, including the West Los Angeles campus, the Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center in the San Fernando Valley, and community-based outpatient clinics. These programs offer individual counseling, group therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and evidence-based modalities such as cognitive processing therapy for co-occurring PTSD.
Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare can access these services at no cost. The enrollment process begins at any VA facility and requires a DD-214 or other proof of military service.
VA Residential Rehabilitation Programs
The West Los Angeles VA campus operates a residential rehabilitation program for veterans with substance use disorders. This program provides structured, intensive treatment in a residential setting for veterans who need more support than outpatient care can provide.
The Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program offers longer-term residential care that addresses addiction alongside homelessness, unemployment, and other psychosocial challenges. Wait times for VA residential programs can vary; veterans in urgent need should inquire about priority placement.
VA Community Care
When VA facilities cannot provide timely treatment or the veteran lives too far from a VA facility, the VA Community Care program allows veterans to receive treatment at approved private facilities at VA expense. This program has significantly expanded access to addiction treatment for veterans in LA County.
Trust SoCal is available to treat veterans through the VA Community Care program. Our clinical team has experience working with military populations and understands the unique aspects of veteran addiction and recovery. Call (949) 280-8360 to discuss eligibility.
Community Organizations Supporting Veteran Recovery
A robust network of community organizations supplements VA services for veterans in LA County. These organizations provide peer support, transitional housing, employment assistance, legal aid, and other wraparound services that support the recovery process.
Organizations such as U.S. VETS, New Directions for Veterans, and the Salvation Army's Haven program operate transitional housing for veterans in recovery from addiction. These programs combine sober living with case management, job readiness training, and connections to ongoing treatment.
Peer support programs, including the VA's own Peer Specialist program and community-based organizations staffed by veterans in recovery, provide a unique form of support that resonates deeply with veterans. Sharing experiences with someone who has served and who has also overcome addiction can break through the isolation and stigma that prevent many veterans from engaging in treatment.
- U.S. VETS: Transitional housing and support services at multiple LA County locations
- New Directions for Veterans: Residential treatment and housing on the West LA VA campus
- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH): Permanent housing with VA case management
- Volunteers of America: Veteran-specific treatment and transitional housing
- Team Red White and Blue: Social fitness and peer connection for veterans
Treating PTSD and Addiction Together
For many veterans, substance use and PTSD are inseparable. Alcohol and drugs provide temporary relief from hypervigilance, nightmares, flashbacks, and emotional numbing, but they ultimately worsen both conditions. Treatment that addresses only the addiction without treating the underlying PTSD sets veterans up for relapse.
Evidence-based treatments for co-occurring PTSD and substance use include cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure therapy, EMDR, and integrated models like Seeking Safety. Medication management with antidepressants, prazosin for nightmares, and medication-assisted treatment for addiction further supports recovery.
Trust SoCal's dual-diagnosis program is designed to treat co-occurring conditions, including PTSD and addiction, simultaneously. Our clinical team uses evidence-based trauma therapies alongside addiction treatment to help veterans heal from both conditions.
Trust SoCal honors the service of our veterans by providing trauma-informed, evidence-based addiction treatment. Call (949) 280-8360 to learn about our programs for veterans.
Getting Started: Resources for Veterans Seeking Help
Taking the first step toward recovery can be especially difficult for veterans who have been trained to suppress vulnerability and handle problems independently. But seeking treatment for addiction is one of the strongest things a veteran can do, for themselves, their families, and their fellow service members who may follow their example.
Start with the Veterans Crisis Line by calling 988 and pressing 1, which provides immediate, confidential support from professionals trained in veteran-specific issues. For treatment referrals, call the VA's main number at 1-800-827-1000 or contact Trust SoCal directly at (949) 280-8360.
Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988, press 1. Available 24/7 with support from professionals who understand military culture.
Amy Pride, MFTT
Marriage & Family Therapy Trainee
