VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System – North Las Vegas VAMC

About VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System – North Las Vegas VAMC – North Las Vegas

North Las Vegas VA Medical Center is a campus that treats veterans who are struggling with drug and alcohol addictions and living in and around North Las Vegas. They’re right by the Desert National Life Refuge, right off Clark County Road 215. Referrals are required.

They are also a dual diagnosis clinic that offers mental health services to those who need them. They can treat many common conditions that veterans may face after the trauma they get during their time in the military, including anxiety, PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and more. These co-occurring conditions can make it extremely difficult to recover without professional medical assistance.

For these services, though, they only offer outpatient care and only on weekdays. This means you would enter their facility and attend therapy and then still have the ability to return home afterwards. They do, however, have a community living center where they offer other services such as 24/7 nursing and medical care, physical therapy, and assistance with daily necessities like showering and making meals.

They have some really cool recreation and arts therapies, which really caught my eye. These include animal interactions, music and art therapy, community outings, exercise, sports, games, gardening and leisure education. Since they’re located in Vegas, you can enjoy the arid desert environment, which can be conducive to relaxation and unwinding.

Alongside all this, they have services for LGBTQ+ members, women’s sexual trauma therapy, and counseling services such as individual counseling and group counseling. Individual counseling looks like a one-on-one meeting with your therapist where you can learn new coping skills, learn to identify triggers, and deal with past trauma. Group counseling, on the other hand, is a great way to meet others who can relate to your situation and a good way to keep each other accountable for your sobriety.

Addiction Treatments

Levels of Care

12-Step

12 step programs such as Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous are support group style programs for individuals who are experiencing alcohol or substance use disorder. At Evoke they use a holistic model of addiction care that includes using 12 step programs. These programs are an integral part of most relapse prevention plans and provide continued support and accountability that support sobriety.

Aftercare Support

Completing a drug or alcohol rehab program shouldn't spell the end of substance abuse treatment. Aftercare involves making a sustainable plan for recovery, including ongoing support. This can include sober living arrangements like halfway houses, career counseling, and setting a patient up with community programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

Inpatient

Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements.

Intensive Outpatient

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) are for those who want or need a very structured treatment program but who also wish to live at home and continue with certain responsibilities (such as work or school). IOP substance abuse treatment programs vary in duration and intensity, and certain outpatient rehab centers will offer individualized treatment programs.

Intervention Services

Intervention services helps family or friends of addicts stage an intervention, which is a meeting in which loved ones share their concerns and attempt to get an addict into treatment. Professional intervention specialists can help loved ones organize, gather, and communicate with an addict. They can guide intervention participants in describing the damage the addict's behavior is causing and that outside help is necessary to address the addiction. The ideal outcome of an intervention is for the addict to go to rehab and get the help they need.

Medically Assisted Detox

Drug and alcohol addiction often takes a heavy toll on one's body. Over time, a physical dependence can develop, meaning the body physiologically needs the substance to function. Detox is the process of removing drugs and/or alcohol from the body, a process that can be lethal if mismanaged. Medical detox is done by licensed medical professionals who monitor vital signs and keep you safe, healthy, and as comfortable as possible as you go through detox and withdrawal.

Outpatient

Outpatient Programs (OP) are for those seeking mental rehab or drug rehab, but who also stay at home every night. The main difference between outpatient treatment (OP) and intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) lies in the amount of hours the patient spends at the facility. Most of the time an outpatient program is designed for someone who has completed an inpatient stay and is looking to continue their growth in recovery. Outpatient is not meant to be the starting point, it is commonly referred to as aftercare.

Partial Hospitalization Program

A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is a short-term form of intensive rehab, usually for those with acute symptoms that are hard to manage but don’t require 24-hour care. PHPs have structured programming (i.e. individual and/or group therapy), and usually meet 3-5 days a week for around 6 hours (i.e. 9am-3m). Some PHPs are residential (patients sleep on site) and some are not, so patients sleep at home. PHPs can last from 1-6 months, and some offer transportation and meals.

Sober Living Homes

Sober Living Houses (SLHs), aka sober homes or halfway houses, are safe, substance-free, supportive living facilities for those recovering from substance abuse. Ideal for those who've just been through inpatient or outpatient treatment, SLHs are supervised environments with rules that support sobriety, such as curfews, shared chores, and therapeutic meetings. Residents are also often trained on life skills and coping skills to make it easier to transition into society. SLHs also provide a strong sense of community that can lead to the kind of deep and lasting connections with other sober individuals that supports a new, healthy lifestyle.

Treatments

Alcoholism Drug Addiction Dual Diagnosis Mental Health and Substance Abuse Opioid Addiction

Programs

Adult Program

Adult rehab programs include therapies tailored to each client's specific needs, goals, and recovery progress. They are tailored to the specific challenges adult clients may face, including family and work pressures and commitments. From inpatient and residential treatment to various levels of outpatient services, there are many options available. Some facilities also help adults work through co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, that can accompany addiction.

Military Program

Serving in the military is both mentally and physically challenging, and can result in trauma that persists even after combat ends. Military programs are tailored to the specific and often complex needs of active duty personnel, veterans, and military families. Clients often access these programs through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Young Adult Program

Young adulthood can be an exciting, yet difficult, time of transition. Individuals in their late teens to mid-20s face unique stressors related to school, jobs, families, and social circles, which can lead to a rise in substance use. Rehab centers with dedicated young adult programs will include activities and amenities that cater to this age group, with an emphasis on specialized counseling, peer socialization, and ongoing aftercare.

Staff

Michael Kiefer, MHA, FACHE

Acting Executive Director

Jack Smith

Acting Deputy Director

Ramu Komanduri, MD

Chief of Staff

Desiree Crawford, DHEd

Associate Director Patient Care Services/Nurse Executive

Melissa Palmer, MBA, MD

Deputy Chief of Staff

Linda Rankin, MSN, MBA, MJ, BS, RN

Deputy Nurse Executive

Jesse Diaz, MBA

Acting Associate Director/Assistant Director

Charles Ramey, MBA

Communications & Customer Experience Executive

Accreditations

Level of Care

Therapies

Specialty Programs

Insurance

The Top 5 Transformation Strategies in Minnesota Recovery

Addictions

Payment Options