Mental health challenges, including drug and alcohol addiction (also known as substance use disorders), are treatable. Find recovery, hope, and healing by learning more about evidence-based treatments at VA and how these services can meet your needs.
Every Veteran has a path to recovery. VA offers many evidence-based treatments for drug and alcohol addiction. These therapies and medications can help manage withdrawal symptoms, control cravings, and strengthen personal motivations for change. VA works with each Veteran to tailor a treatment plan to their needs, values, and goals.
Over 600,000 Veterans received treatment
for substance use disorders at VA.
(Fiscal year 2025, October 2024-September 2025)
For some Veterans, the path to recovery involves a more structured setting and around-the-clock support. VA provides this for Veterans through its residential rehabilitation programs. These programs place Veterans in a comfortable residential environment with on-site access to comprehensive services for substance use disorders, other mental health conditions, physical health issues, and social needs such as employment and housing.
More than 29,000 Veterans served
at around 123 VA residential sites.
(Fiscal year 2025, October 2024-September 2025)
Substance use brings a variety of harms that could make recovery difficult or even impossible because those harms can be fatal. Harm reduction is an approach to health care that helps reduce patients’ risk of experiencing those negative health consequences, including death, as they consider additional efforts, like treatment, to support their recovery. Harm reduction helps protect a person’s life and well-being while they pursue their recovery. Harm reduction can be one part of living a healthier life (as using seatbelts is one part of careful driving) that might also include treatment and other supports for recovery. It is part of a continuum of options that helps reduce the risk of death and other negative health consequences stemming from substance use. Using naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses is one example of harm reduction.
More than 5,500 overdose reversals
with naloxone have been reported since VA started making naloxone available nationally to Veterans in 2014.
If you’re concerned about your alcohol or drug use, reach out for support. Learn more about the signs and symptoms of alcohol, opioid, stimulant, and cannabis use disorders and the resources available at VA to treat these disorders.
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This page was last updated on: July 15, 2026
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