Innovative Unit Treats Alcoholism at Bay Pines VA
By Medina Ayala-Lo, Public Affairs Officer
Detox. To do this is to clear your body, and sometimes your mind, of anything that is harmful to your constitution. One provider at Bay Pines VA Healthcare System has pioneered a path to recovery and it comes in the form of the organization’s Medical Detox Unit.
“This is a first of its kind unit for patients who are detoxing from alcohol and need additional support and resources,” said Bay Pines VA Chief of Mental Health Dr. Rodrigo Velezmoro. “From day one, Veterans are exposed to wrap-around services that engage them in the treatment needed for long-term recovery.”
Opened in the fall of 2025, this voluntary program is located in the main hospital of the C.W.Y. VA Medical Center Campus. It is the first phase of Project Lighthouse, an initiative led by Dr. Velezmoro to expand Bay Pines VA’s services in key areas.
The detox unit is supported through the collaborative efforts of the hospitalist, acute nursing, and the Substance Addiction Treatment Program (SATP). Additionally, there is a therapist embedded in the unit who is available seven days a week.
“One of the things I love about this project is we're seeing really great discussion and collaboration between the medical hospital side and the psychiatry therapy side,” Velezmoro stated. “The more we collaborate about the needs of our patients, the more successful we're going to be in ushering them toward success.”
Currently, the unit has the capacity for eight Veterans. For the duration of their stay, Veterans are engaged with SATP therapy and psychiatry services to ensure they receive the treatment needed to graduate to the next phase of their recovery.
“If someone presents with alcohol withdrawal, they most likely need substance abuse treatment but they’re going to be hesitant,” Velezmoro stated. “In the detox unit we start laying the foundation for them to go right from detox into one of our residential programs.”
The experiences of each Veteran are different and, as such, their treatment plans will be different too. Because of this, the staff in the detox unit work to carefully assess the needs of each Veteran and determine the course of treatment that best suits them.
“If the patient is ready and it's appropriate, we connect them with residential services,” Velezmoro said. “Sometimes they need general mental health services, or PTSD treatment. We really explore treatment on a case-by-case basis.”
If you, or a Veteran you know, is struggling with substance abuse in any capacity, Bay Pines VA is here to help. Call