Military substance abuse – of alcohol and drugs, both illegal and prescription – has risen to some of the highest levels ever according to a recent study by the Institute of Medicine.
Current armed forces policies do not adequately address these issues and military health coverage, Tricare, does not cover several evidence-based therapies that are considered standard practice for addiction.
Lighthouse Network, the premier Christian addiction treatment and mental health counseling service in the U.S., offers military members, veterans, and family members compassionate care and can assist with referrals for treatment that will accept Tricare benefits.
PHILADELPHIA – Addiction among active duty military members continues to climb, with a recent Institute of Medicine study reporting the highest ever rates of heavy drinking, binge drinking, and medication misuse among its ranks. The study also notes that current programs and policies are not effective, especially in dealing with prescription medication misuse.
While alcohol has long been part of military culture, the alarming trend toward military mental health issues and suicide are compounded by alcohol and drug abuse, and more effective steps must be taken to combat the problem. Lighthouse Network, the premier Christian addiction treatment and mental health counseling service in the U.S., can offer caring, compassionate referrals to treatment programs and facilities that have proven track records of success. Options that accept the military Tricare benefits are also available.
“The terrible stressors of war and daily combat, combined with the worries about loved ones left at home to deal with a struggling economy and the pressures of work, home, and family by themselves, is a lot for our men and women in the military to bear,” said Karl Benzio, M.D., Founder and Executive Director of the Lighthouse Network. “It’s difficult for people to manage the complex emotional toll of such a situation even with appropriate support systems, but those who bear it alone often turn to the numbing effects that substances can provide. What we try to do is show the servicemen, their families, and anyone suffering with addiction that there are far more effective ways to cope with the stress of life – even if your life is more stressful than most.”
Lighthouse Network promotes Christian counseling and therapy programs, recognizing that God has the ultimate power and ability to completely heal the whole person, as opposed to the superficial and damaging solution that drugs and alcohol provide. LHN teaches that with God-centered, holistic healing, callers don’t need these vices in order to cope with life. Through their free, 24-hour Lighthouse Network Addiction and Counseling Helpline at (844) 543-3242, Lighthouse Network Care Guides talk with callers and can help determine the next best course of action for the caller’s needs. Care guides even have treatment facilities and programs available that accept Tricare, the military health benefit program, so that our armed forces members can get effective help for their challenges while still taking advantage of the benefits that the military provides.
“Insurance issues can sometimes prevent a person from seeking help, especially in this terrible economy. But we have partnered with facilities across the country that can accept Tricare and can help our soldiers through the traumas they face,” Benzio concluded. “While the horrors of war may distort the self-image of even the toughest military man or woman, we do everything possible to show them God’s truth and love and to guide them to real medical help coupled with mental and spiritual support. It is often the spiritual element that leads to long-lasting healing – from both addiction and the mental anguish of war.”
Lighthouse Network provides guidance through life’s storms for people who have a hard time defining their particular problem or have difficulty finding the right answers from other often-confusing sources. Care Guides will link patients or loved ones to a counseling, addiction, or psychiatric care facility through LHN’s national database of treatment centers, counselors, and therapists. They successfully manage complicated cases, especially of acute addiction, and provide help from a holistic (spirit, mind, and body) perspective. Helping people of all faiths, our approach integrates cutting-edge science and spiritual truths as this approach produces the best chance of successful change in a person’s life. Being a faith-based organization has opened the doors to many hard-to-find Christian options producing powerful and lasting transformational experiences. Read stories of changed lives that have resulted from Lighthouse Network’s assistance.
Through its website, www.lighthousenetwork.org, Lighthouse Network offers several resources for those struggling with addiction, as well as for their families, including Stepping Stones, a free daily devotional for managing life’s stressors and storms and equipping readers with healthy decision-making skills. Visit https://lighthousenetwork.org/stepping-stones/ to read the devotionals and sign up to receive them daily via email.
For more information on Lighthouse Network, visit www.lighthousenetwork.org or call the Lighthouse Network Addiction and Counseling Helpline toll-free at (844) 543-3242.