Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Substance Abuse Services
Overview
The Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Louisville, Kentucky, is a premier healthcare facility that is committed to the provision of comprehensive medical care to U.S. military veterans. This facility, which is a component of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' extensive healthcare network, provides a wide variety of specialized services to guarantee that veterans receive the highest quality of care that is specifically tailored to their individual requirements.
Neurosurgery, orthopedics, and mental health care are among the primary services offered at the Louisville VAMC, all of which are provided by highly competent and experienced healthcare professionals.
The Louisville VAMC is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to guarantee that veterans have access to care at any time. This medical center remains a cornerstone of veteran healthcare in the region, providing critical support and medical expertise to enhance the well-being and quality of life of veterans, as it is dedicated to service to those who have served the nation.
Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Substance Abuse Services at a Glance
Payment Options
- Cash or self-payment
- Private health insurance
- Federal military insurance (e.g., TRICARE)
- Federal, or any government funding for substance use treatment programs
- Per session
Assessments
- Screening for tobacco use
- Comprehensive mental health assessment
- Comprehensive substance use assessment
- Interim services for clients
- Outreach to persons in the community
Age Groups
- Young adults
- Adults
Ancillary Services
- Case management service
- Integrated primary care services
- Suicide prevention services
- Domestic violence services, including family or partner
- Early intervention for HIV
Accreditations
Hospital licensing authority:
The Hospital Licensing Authority is responsible for granting licenses to healthcare facilities, ensuring that they meet the standards and regulations set by the government. Accreditation is a process of evaluation and recognition by a third-party organization, confirming that the hospital meets specific quality and safety standards.
The Joint Commission:
The Joint Commission accreditation signifies that a facility has met rigorous standards of excellence in patient care, treatment, and safety. It assures individuals and healthcare professionals that the accredited facility provides high-quality, evidence-based care for addiction and mental health issues, fostering trust and confidence in their services.
Effective date: 01/27/2016
Registration: 7769
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF):
CARF accreditation is a globally recognized certification for rehabilitation and human service organizations. It signifies that an organization meets high-quality standards and is committed to providing top-level care. Achieving CARF accreditation involves a rigorous evaluation process, including on-site surveys. This accreditation enhances an organization's reputation, instills trust in clients and funders, and encourages ongoing excellence in the field.
Registration: 233551
SAMHSA certification for opioid treatment program (OTP):
SAMHSA's Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) accreditation is a rigorous recognition process that signifies an OTP's commitment to providing high-quality care for individuals dealing with opioid use disorders. It assures patients, families, and the community that the program adheres to evidence-based practices, employs qualified staff, and maintains a safe treatment environment. This accreditation is a symbol of quality and accountability, offering confidence in the program's ability to support individuals on their path to recovery from opioid addiction.
Treatment At Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Substance Abuse Services
Conditions Treated
Alcoholism:
Alcohol addiction is a condition where a person's brain gets used to having alcohol, making it hard for them to control their drinking. This can lead to feeling down, acting without thinking, wanting alcohol strongly, and feeling sick if they don't drink. To help with this, treatment programs are available. These usually include a guided process to safely stop drinking, talking with professionals to work through problems, and joining support groups with others facing similar issues. While these treatments can't fully cure the addiction, they provide tools and support to help individuals live a better life and keep their drinking under control.
Mental health treatment:
Mental health treatment involves a range of therapeutic approaches, provided by licensed professionals, to address mental health challenges. It includes psychotherapy, medication, and holistic practices to help individuals manage conditions, improve coping skills, and enhance overall well-being. The goal is to empower individuals to lead fulfilling lives and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
Substance use treatment:
Substance use rehabilitation represents a holistic treatment strategy tailored to aid individuals grappling with drug or alcohol addiction. This comprehensive rehabilitation method encompasses two key aspects: first, addressing the physical dependency, often commencing with detoxification, and second, tackling the psychological triggers through a range of therapeutic techniques. The ultimate aim is to empower individuals to attain and sustain sobriety while providing them with the necessary skills and coping mechanisms to successfully reintegrate into society and lead a life free from substance abuse.
Co-occurring Disorders:
Dual-diagnosis rehabilitation centers focus on treating individuals with simultaneous mental health and substance use disorders. The intertwined nature of addiction and mental health issues can intensify each other's symptoms, complicating recovery. These centers provide a holistic treatment strategy addressing both conditions together, often encompassing thorough evaluations, a blend of therapeutic methods, family counseling, and post-treatment care.
Levels Of Care
Hospital inpatient treatment:
Residential treatment programs provide housing, meals, and substance abuse treatment, offering patients an environment dedicated entirely to their recovery, distinct from their everyday life. While some rehab facilities concentrate on short-term stays lasting a few days to a couple of weeks, others emphasize long-term care spanning several weeks to months. Many centers offer both, customizing the treatment based on each patient's unique needs.
Outpatient:
Outpatient treatment at rehab centers provides adaptable therapy schedules, usually spanning 1-3 hours weekly, enabling participants to maintain their everyday routines while undergoing treatment. On the other hand, intensive outpatient programs require a more dedicated time investment, frequently around 9-15 hours a week, delivering a deeper therapeutic experience without the commitment of inpatient residency.
Short-term residential:
Short-term residential rehab programs provide an intensive and focused approach to addiction recovery. These programs typically last a few weeks to a few months, making them ideal for individuals with work or family commitments. They offer round-the-clock care, counseling, and support to help clients stabilize, develop coping skills, and create a recovery plan. In contrast to long-term rehab, which extends for months or years, short-term programs are more time-efficient, making them a suitable choice for those seeking intensive treatment with limited time availability.
Long-term residential:
Long-Term Residential offers an in-depth treatment setting where individuals facing addiction reside on-site, typically for durations such as 90 days, 6 months, 1 year, or even up to 2 years. These centers focus on healing and rehabilitating patients through well-organized routines, therapeutic measures, and continuous professional support. This extended stay ensures that patients can thoroughly tackle the underlying issues of their addiction and cultivate strong coping mechanisms.
Outpatient detoxification:
Outpatient Detoxification is a medical procedure designed for individuals dealing with substance dependence. It involves a carefully managed and supervised withdrawal from these substances, all without the need for hospitalization or inpatient care. This approach empowers patients to undergo detox from drugs or alcohol within a less confining setting, permitting them to sustain their regular daily obligations such as work or family responsibilities. Comprehensive monitoring, medication administration, counseling, and supportive measures are provided to effectively manage withdrawal symptoms and minimize potential complications.
Outpatient methadone/buprenorphine or naltrexone treatment:
Naltrexone, an FDA-sanctioned medication, is employed to address both opioid and alcohol dependencies. It aids in curbing cravings and warding off relapses, facilitating a smoother recovery process. It's available as a daily pill (brands include ReVia and Depade) or as a monthly injection (brand name Vivitrol). Prior to commencing naltrexone, patients should be free of any illicit opioids or opioid medicines for a duration of 7-10 days, including methadone.
Intensive outpatient treatment:
Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) support clients in maintaining long-term sobriety by providing tailored, high-quality care that adapts to their changing requirements. Clients participate in several treatment sessions each week, typically receiving between nine to 20 hours of outpatient care weekly. As clients achieve stability, the treatment frequency and intensity gradually diminish. Many intensive outpatient rehabilitation centers provide a diverse range of services, such as addiction counseling, training in life skills geared towards recovery, and the option for medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Additionally, evidence-based complementary therapies are frequently integrated into the program.
Regular outpatient treatment:
Regular Outpatient Treatment involves scheduled therapy sessions typically held on an outpatient basis, allowing individuals to receive essential support while maintaining their daily routines. These sessions usually range from one to three times per week, providing a flexible approach to recovery that accommodates the individual's needs and progress. It offers a structured environment for therapy and counseling, enabling individuals to address addiction or mental health issues while continuing to engage in their daily responsibilities.
Aftercare:
Aftercare treatment refers to the continued support and care that individuals receive following the completion of their primary treatment program for substance abuse or addiction. This phase aims to aid individuals in maintaining their sobriety, improving personal skills and coping strategies, and integrating back into society. Aftercare can include ongoing therapy, support group meetings, education, and monitoring, which are crucial for preventing relapse and promoting long-term recovery. Through a combination of community support, accountability, and personal development, aftercare provides a structured pathway for individuals to continue their recovery journey in a supportive environment.
Halfway house:
Sober living homes or halfway houses, offer secure, substance-free, and supportive living arrangements for individuals in the process of recovering from substance abuse. These facilities are particularly beneficial for individuals who have recently completed inpatient or outpatient treatment programs. Halfway houses are carefully monitored environments with established guidelines aimed at fostering and maintaining sobriety, including curfews, shared household responsibilities, and therapeutic gatherings. Residents often receive training in essential life skills and coping strategies to facilitate a smoother transition into mainstream society. Additionally, it cultivates a strong sense of community that fosters deep and enduring connections with fellow individuals in recovery, promoting a fresh and healthy lifestyle.
Treatment Modalities
Cognitive behavioral therapy:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a evidence-based psychotherapeutic approach that aims to address dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and cognitions through a goal-oriented, systematic process. It involves identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and beliefs and replacing them with more constructive ways of thinking and behaving. CBT is commonly used to treat a variety of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and phobias.
Telemedicine/telehealth therapy:
Telehealth Therapy allows individuals to access mental health services remotely via secure video conferencing. This level of care offers qualified therapy from the comfort of one's home, removing geographical barriers and often reducing wait times. Ideal for those with mobility challenges, tight schedules, or those in rural areas, it combines convenience with consistent, high-quality mental health support.
Substance use disorder counseling:
Substance use disorder counseling treatment modalities refer to various approaches and methods used in the counseling and treatment of individuals with substance use problems. This can include individual therapy, group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, family therapy, and 12-step programs. The goal is to help the individual overcome their substance use, develop healthy coping skills, and lead a fulfilling life in recovery.
Trauma-related counseling:
Trauma therapy addresses the deep-seated emotional and psychological wounds often linked with substance abuse disorders. Recognizing that traumatic experiences can be a root cause or a significant contributing factor to substance addiction, this therapeutic approach seeks to help individuals understand, process, and heal from their traumas. Doing so fosters emotional healing and bolsters the individual's chances of long-term recovery from addiction. Integrating trauma-informed care into addiction treatment ensures a comprehensive approach that addresses substance abuse's symptoms and underlying causes.
Smoking/vaping/tobacco cessation counseling:
Tobacco cessation counseling encompasses discussions with a counselor regarding your tobacco or vape usage and its integration into your daily routine, with the goal of devising a strategy to quit. This service caters to individuals desiring to quit tobacco, offering interventions like behavioral support or counseling in groups or one-on-one settings. The counseling sessions may range from brief encounters (under 5 minutes) to more intensive discussions (exceeding 10 minutes) and may necessitate multiple sessions.
Group counseling:
Group Therapy is a therapeutic space where individuals battling addiction come together to share experiences, gain insights, and support one another on their journey to recovery. Facilitated by trained professionals, this setting fosters communal healing and empowers participants to overcome the challenges of addiction through collective strength and understanding.
Family counseling:
Family Counseling is a therapeutic approach that seeks to address and resolve conflicts, improve communication, and strengthen relationships within the family unit. By providing a safe space for family members to express their feelings and concerns, a trained counselor facilitates understanding and collaboration among members, promoting healthier dynamics and enhancing overall family well-being.
Marital/couples counseling:
Marital/couples counseling treatment modalities refer to various therapeutic approaches used to help couples resolve conflicts, improve communication, and strengthen their relationship. These modalities can include cognitive-behavioral therapy, emotionally focused therapy, solution-focused therapy, and integrative approaches. The goal of these treatments is to help couples identify and address underlying issues and develop healthy relationship dynamics.
Intervention Services:
Intervention Services are professional services aimed at addressing and amending harmful behaviors or situations, primarily in individuals struggling with addiction or other serious issues. These services guide and support both individuals and their loved ones through the intervention process, wherein a structured, solution-oriented conversation is held to encourage the individual to accept help and make positive changes towards recovery. By blending compassionate understanding with a well-formulated approach, intervention services play a crucial role in bridging the gap between acknowledgment of an issue and taking the initial steps towards resolution.
Contingency management/motivational incentives:
Contingency management and motivational incentives are evidence-based treatment modalities used in addiction and behavioral health programs. Contingency management involves the use of rewards to reinforce positive behaviors and change negative behaviors, while motivational incentives provide incentives to engage in treatment and sustain recovery. Both approaches are designed to increase motivation and engagement in treatment and have been shown to be effective in promoting positive outcomes.
Motivational interviewing:
Motivational Interviewing (MI) in addiction treatment is a client-centered counseling style aimed at promoting behavior change by helping clients explore and resolve ambivalence. Through empathetic engagement and evoking change talk, MI empowers individuals to harness their own motivation to overcome addiction, leading to a self-directed path to recovery. This approach respects individual autonomy while supporting positive change in a compassionate, non-confrontational manner.
Anger management:
Anger Management is a therapeutic approach aimed at helping individuals recognize the triggers and signs of their anger and teaching them effective ways to calm down and deal with the situations in a positive manner. Through a blend of counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and practical skill development, individuals learn to reduce aggressive responses, improve communication, and enhance interpersonal relationships, contributing to a better quality of life.
Relapse prevention:
The Relapse Prevention Model plays a pivotal role in the treatment of alcoholism. Utilizing a blend of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), this model is particularly valuable for individuals who have experienced multiple relapses. Through this approach, those in recovery are equipped with essential coping skills, empowered for their journey, and guided in adopting healthier habits.
Individual psychotherapy:
Individual Psychotherapy provides a private, one-on-one setting where clients can explore and address their personal challenges, behaviors, and feelings related to addiction and recovery. With the guidance of a trained therapist, clients work to uncover the root causes of their substance use, develop coping strategies, and build a foundation for long-term recovery and personal growth.
Ancillary Services
Additional Services
- Pharmacotherapies administered during treatment
- Mentoring/peer support
- Breathalyzer or blood alcohol testing
Special Programs
- Veterans
- Active duty military
- Clients who have experienced trauma
- Persons with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Contact Information
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