Key Takeaways
- Veterans experience substance use disorders at higher rates than the general population, driven by combat trauma, chronic pain, and transition challenges.
- The VA Loma Linda Healthcare System serves Riverside County veterans with addiction treatment services at multiple locations.
- PTSD and substance use disorder co-occur in the majority of veterans seeking addiction treatment, requiring integrated dual diagnosis care.
- Private treatment facilities can complement or serve as alternatives to VA care, particularly for veterans with private insurance or those who prefer non-VA settings.
- Trust SoCal has experience treating veterans and understands military culture and its intersection with addiction.
Addiction Among Veterans in Riverside County
Riverside County is home to a significant veteran population, with more than 100,000 veterans residing throughout the county. The presence of March Air Reserve Base in Moreno Valley, the proximity to several active military installations in Southern California, and the relatively affordable cost of living in the Inland Empire attract veterans and military families to the area. This large veteran population also means that the county faces substantial demand for veteran-specific addiction treatment services.
Veterans experience substance use disorders at rates significantly higher than the general population. Studies from the Department of Veterans Affairs indicate that approximately one in ten veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan struggle with substance misuse. The factors driving this elevated risk include combat-related PTSD, chronic pain from service-connected injuries, traumatic brain injury, the difficulty of transitioning from military to civilian life, and the drinking culture prevalent in military environments.
The intersection of PTSD and substance use is particularly critical among veterans. Research shows that 63 percent of veterans diagnosed with substance use disorder also meet criteria for PTSD, and many use alcohol or drugs specifically to manage the hyperarousal, intrusive memories, emotional numbing, and sleep disturbances that characterize post-traumatic stress. Treating the addiction without addressing the underlying trauma is a recipe for relapse.
The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7 by calling 988 and pressing 1, texting 838255, or chatting online at veteranscrisisline.net. If you are a veteran in crisis, reach out immediately.
VA Treatment Resources for Riverside County Veterans
The VA Loma Linda Healthcare System is the primary VA medical facility serving Riverside County veterans. Located in Loma Linda, approximately 15 miles east of central Riverside, this facility offers substance use treatment services including outpatient counseling, intensive outpatient programming, medication-assisted treatment, and referrals to VA residential treatment programs.
VA community-based outpatient clinics in Corona, Murrieta, and Palm Desert provide additional access points for veterans in different parts of the county. These clinics offer mental health and substance use counseling, medication management, and coordination with the main Loma Linda facility for higher levels of care.
The VA Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program provides residential addiction treatment in a structured environment for veterans who need more intensive support than outpatient care can provide. Admissions are coordinated through the VA healthcare system and typically require a referral from a VA provider.
Enrolling in VA Healthcare
To access VA addiction treatment services, veterans must be enrolled in the VA healthcare system. Enrollment is open to most veterans who served on active duty and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Priority is given to veterans with service-connected disabilities, low income, and certain combat service. The enrollment process can be completed online at va.gov, by phone at 1-877-222-VETS, or in person at any VA medical facility.
Veterans who are not enrolled in VA healthcare or who prefer to seek treatment outside the VA system have other options. The MISSION Act expanded veterans' access to community care, allowing eligible veterans to receive treatment from approved private providers when VA services are not available within certain drive time or wait time standards.
Private Treatment Options for Veterans
Many veterans prefer to seek addiction treatment outside the VA system for various reasons. Some have private insurance through employers, spouses, or TRICARE. Others prefer the privacy and clinical environment of private facilities. Some veterans have had negative experiences with VA care or face wait times that make private treatment more immediately accessible.
Private treatment facilities that effectively serve veterans understand military culture and its relationship to addiction. This includes appreciation for the values of mission, teamwork, and resilience that define military service, awareness of the unique stressors faced by service members and veterans, experience treating combat-related PTSD and moral injury, and sensitivity to the reluctance many veterans feel about seeking help for mental health and substance use issues.
Trust SoCal in Fountain Valley has treated veterans from all branches of service and understands the specific challenges that military experience creates in the context of addiction and recovery. Their clinical team includes therapists experienced in trauma-focused therapies including EMDR and prolonged exposure, which are the gold standard treatments for combat-related PTSD.
PTSD and Addiction: The Dual Diagnosis Challenge
For many veterans, PTSD and addiction are so intertwined that treating one without the other is futile. PTSD drives substance use as a coping mechanism, and substance use worsens PTSD symptoms by disrupting sleep, increasing anxiety, and impairing emotional processing. Breaking this cycle requires integrated treatment that addresses both conditions simultaneously.
Effective dual diagnosis treatment for veterans combines evidence-based trauma therapy with addiction-specific interventions. Cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure therapy are the VA's recommended first-line treatments for PTSD. EMDR has also demonstrated strong efficacy for trauma processing. These therapies are combined with substance use treatment that may include medication-assisted treatment for opioid or alcohol dependence, cognitive behavioral therapy for addiction, and group therapy with other veterans.
The group therapy component is particularly important for veterans, who often report that they can only be truly honest about their combat experiences and substance use with others who have shared military service. Veteran-specific groups create a space where military humor, experiences, and values are understood, reducing the sense of isolation that many veterans feel in civilian treatment settings.
In the military, we were taught that asking for help was weakness. Recovery taught me that asking for help is the bravest thing I have ever done.
— U.S. Marine Corps veteran in recovery
Getting Started with Treatment
Taking the first step toward treatment can be especially difficult for veterans who have been conditioned to suppress vulnerability and push through pain. It helps to reframe seeking treatment not as weakness but as a strategic decision, the same kind of calculated action that military training prepares you to make when the situation demands change.
For VA care, start by contacting the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System at 909-825-7084 or visiting any VA community-based outpatient clinic in Riverside County. For private treatment, call Trust SoCal at (949) 280-8360 for a confidential assessment. Their admissions team has experience working with veterans and can navigate insurance verification for TRICARE, private insurance, and other coverage options.
Your service matters, and so does your recovery. The resources available to Riverside County veterans provide multiple pathways to reclaim your life from addiction and PTSD. The mission ahead is recovery, and you do not have to complete it alone.
Kristin Stevens, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
