Drug & Alcohol Addiction Treatment for Female Veterans

All Veterans are at risk for developing an addiction, however female Veterans face unique challenges related to their military experience that can potentially lead to a substance use disorder.¹ Specialized treatment programs that take their unique needs into account can help.

Keep reading to learn more about female Veterans and addiction, risk factors and the impact of mental health conditions like PTSD on addiction, resources for female Veterans, and how to find addiction treatment options for women Veterans near you.

Drug & Alcohol Addiction Among Veterans

Substance use is relatively common in the military, with alcohol being one of the most commonly consumed substances by Veterans and active-duty members alike.² Generally speaking, Veterans struggle with substance misuse and addiction (known clinically as substance use disorder), at higher rates when compared to members of the general public.²

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), around 1 in 10 Veterans have been diagnosed with SUD, which is a slightly higher rate than occurs among civilians.² A 2023 survey by the RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Institute reports that 4.9% of Veterans were diagnosed with a past-year alcohol use disorder, and 1.6% had a past-year drug use disorder.³ Alarmingly, suicide among Veterans can be influenced by substance use, with one study reporting that around 30% of completed suicides among military members were preceded by alcohol or drug use.⁴

Are Women More Prone to Addiction?

Reports indicate that substance use disorders occur at increasing rates in female Veterans.^2,4 According to the VA, women Veterans are entering SUD treatment at increasing rates, with more than half seeking treatment related to alcohol use.¹

One study reports that alcohol and drug use disorders are more common among male than female Veterans. Statistics show that 10.5% current alcohol use disorders and 4.8% current drug use disorders occur among male Veterans, compared to 4.8% current alcohol use disorders and 2.4% current drug use disorders among female Veterans.⁴

While men are generally more likely to suffer from addiction, women more frequently suffer from mental health conditions and encounter specific risk factors that can put them at an increased risk of developing SUD.^4,5,6

Risk Factors for Substance Use Disorder in Women

As with men, women can face general risk factors for developing SUD, such as chronic stress, early trauma, or a family history of addiction.⁷ Women, regardless of military experience, can also face risk factors for SUDs that are unique to their gender as well as risk factors that are specific to their military involvement. These can include:

• Intimate partner violence.^8,9
• Childhood abuse.⁸
• Eating disorders or weight concerns.⁸
• Mental health stigma in the military or shame associated with being a female who engages in substance misuse or has an addiction .⁴
• Higher rates of military sexual trauma.⁴
• Chronic pain.¹
• PTSD, or posttraumatic stress disorder.¹

Female Veterans & PTSD

Due to their unique military experiences, posttraumatic stress disorder in female Veterans is common.¹ According to the VA, 13% of women Veterans develop PTSD, compared to 6% of men Veterans.⁹

Co-occurring mental health conditions like PTSD are often linked with SUDs.^1,7 While all Veterans can experience co-occurring PTSD and SUD, one longitudinal study of Veterans involved in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom found that the cross-sectional correlation between drug use and PTSD was strongest among female Veterans; drug use problems were also linked to future PTSD symptom severity in women.¹⁰

Women in the military can develop PTSD for many of the same reasons as men do, including combat exposure, sudden loss, or witnessing the death of another person, but they also experience other risks at higher rates, such as military sexual trauma, worrying about family, and feelings of loneliness.^9,11

Veteran Addiction Treatment Options & Resources for Women

Fortunately, there are numerous resources available to female Veterans struggling with SUD and co-occurring disorders like PTSD. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or the VA, is one of the most commonly-used treatment resources for female Veterans with addiction or mental health concerns. If you’re a Veteran who’s enrolled with the VA healthcare plan, you may be covered for various treatments related to mental health conditions and SUDs.¹² 

VA Rehab for Drug & Alcohol Addiction

The VA offers a wide range of treatments for SUD and co-occurring disorders, including:¹²

• Medical detox.
• Inpatient rehab.
• Outpatient treatment.
• Medications for addiction treatment.
• Short-term outpatient counseling.
• Marriage and family counseling.
• Self-help groups.
• Treatment for co-occurring disorders.

If you’re interested in accessing these services, verify that you are enrolled in the VA’s healthcare plan.¹² You can call the VA’s general hotline at 1- 800-827-1000 for more information or visit the VA’s website to enroll/check your status.

Addiction Treatment Options for Female Veterans

If you’re a female Veteran who’s struggling with addiction during wartimes or thereafter, treatment options may include:

• Medical detox.
• Inpatient drug and alcohol rehab.
• Outpatient addiction treatment programs.
• Intensive outpatient addiction treatment programs.
• Partial hospitalization rehab programs.
• Sober living.
• Rehab aftercare.

Start Your Recovery Today

If you or a loved one is ready to seek rehab for a substance use disorder, explore your options and reach out to a rehab center using our rehab directory tool today!