About VA Black Hills Health Care System – VAMC – FORT MEADE
Located in Fort Meade, South Dakota, the Fort Meade VA Medical Center brings a lot of benefits and services to the table for veterans who are struggling to heal from drug or alcohol addictions. They don’t only treat addiction though. I was thoroughly impressed with their offerings, including their treatment of mental health.
These sorts of clinics are often referred to as dual diagnosis centers because they treat co-occurring conditions. These conditions may include depression, anxiety and panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. In the veteran community, these are unfortunately fairly common occurrences. That is because time spent on active duty can be traumatizing. Luckily, almost all of these veteran clinics offer some sort of assistance for mental health.
On top of this, they may offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for any individual who is worried about withdrawal symptoms or the heavy discomfort that may come from cravings during the detox process. With medications such as Vivitrol and Suboxone, you’ll have a chance to minimize those cravings and reduce the level of withdrawal symptoms, making it an easier and safer process overall.
What I really liked about this particular clinic are their more holistic offerings. They offer a variety of games, sports, and exercises that you can partake in during your recovery process. This keeps your spirits high and your mind and body healthy as you continue on your sober journey.
They also offer counseling services such as individual counseling, group therapy and marriage or relationship counseling. All of these can help you conquer your trauma, learn coping skills, and identify any triggers that may cause you to relapse.