Supporting Veterans

My brother is a Veteran and I think he drinks a ton of alcohol as a way to cope with underlying issues—and it’s affecting his work. Is alcohol abuse a disability? If so, can he get on disability to get treatment?

In short, it can be a disability, and treatment is available in Visalia and Tulare County. Diagnosable drug or alcohol substance use disorders (SUDs) are considered a medical condition and Visalia Recovery Center can help — from substantiating the diagnosis to treatment and long-term recovery. 

According to the EDD, if chronic drug or alcohol use affects someone’s ability to get or hold a job, “it becomes necessary to examine the claimant’s eligibility for benefits.”

While there are some gray areas and employer protections, an individual who abuses alcohol may be considered disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) “if the person is an alcoholic or a recovering alcoholic.[40] Courts have usually held that alcoholism is a covered disability.”

Additionally, there is support for employees that may have a SUD—who are Veterans. SUDs co-occurring with PTSD is not uncommon, and according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: almost 1 out of every 3 Veterans seeking treatment for SUD also has PTSD.

The VA reports that “PTSD can occur after someone goes through combat, physical or sexual assault, terrorist attack, serious accident or natural disaster. PTSD symptoms include feeling keyed up, having flashbacks of an event, avoiding reminders of the event, or feeling numb to things you used to enjoy.” 

Substance abuse can be a way people cope with PTSD. VA research shows:

• 27% of Veterans in VA care diagnosed with PTSD also have substance use disorder (SUD)
• More than 2 of 10 Veterans with PTSD also have SUD.
• The number of Veterans who smoke (nicotine) is almost double for those with PTSD (about 6 of 10) versus those without a PTSD diagnosis (3 of 10).
• In the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, about 1 in 10 returning Veterans seen in VA have a problem with alcohol or other drugs.
• War Veterans with PTSD and alcohol problems tend to binge drink. Binge drinking is when a person drinks a lot of alcohol (4-5 drinks or more) in a short period of time (1-2 hours).

Fortunately, treatment for Veterans in Visalia, California is available and effective. Regardless of your employment and Veteran status, Visalia Recovery Center can help find treatment for you or someone you love.

What treatments are available for SUD?

There are various treatment options available for addressing both PTSD and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) simultaneously. As a dual-diagnosis treatment center specializing in substance abuse recovery and long-term support, we offer a range of therapies and services designed to treat both conditions, for example:

• Trauma-informed care
• Customized treatment depending on attendance and medical necessity
• Intensive Outpatient Program
• Eight to Twelve Week Programs involving 4 three-hour sessions a week – 
• One-on-one Counseling
• Case Management once per week
• Holistic Treatment 
• Alcohol and drug testing near you
• In-person evaluation and follow-up appointments with our medical director, Dr. Jaques
• Intimate, small group settings
• Private family sessions
• Couples therapy and family therapy
• Court-mandated rehab from Tulare County Superior Courts

More Resources

Learn more about how Visalia Recovery Center supports Veterans →

Note: Tulare Veterans Clinic has now closed and is in Visalia.

If you or a Veteran you love is in crisis, dial 988 then Press 1 to reach the Veteran Crisis Line.