Rural Veterans Report Detox Travel, Stigma, and Treatment Gaps

A new qualitative study sheds light on some of the problems rural veterans can face when they seek treatment for alcohol withdrawal and ongoing care for alcohol use disorder.

Published July 9, the study was based on interviews with 16 veterans receiving care at two VA hospitals in the Midwest that serve highly rural areas.

The veterans described turning to alcohol for different reasons. Physical pain came up in the interviews, along with mental health symptoms, trauma and isolation.

Some needed medical detox for their alcohol dependence because drinking was no longer keeping withdrawal symptoms at bay. Others had tried to cut back at home, but found that it felt unsafe.

In many cases the veterans weren’t simply looking for help with drinking, they were reaching treatment after dealing with serious physical or emotional problems.

Getting to Alcohol Detox Can Be Difficult in Rural Areas

For some veterans needing detox there’s the challenge of finding a hospital. Several traveled more than an hour to find a facility that provided alcohol withdrawal treatment.

Follow up appointments can become harder to manage too, especially when transportation is expensive or unreliable.

Residential rehabilitation through the VA was another concern with some participants feeling they had been sent home before they were ready.

It’s also difficult returning home since a person’s living situation, and daily routine can closely tie to drinking. Detox can help someone get through the immediate withdrawal period, but it doesn’t necessarily address everything waiting for them afterward.

Stigma Can Make It Harder to Ask for Help

The veterans brought up stigma as another barrier mentioning concerns that healthcare providers would judge them or make assumptions about addiction.

Others were concerned about what would happen if they completely opened up about how much they were drinking.

It seems the interviews point to the healthcare system itself creating hurdles that make it harder to start treatment or stay connected to it.

The study also highlights an important distinction between detox and treatment for alcohol use disorder. Medical detox focuses on getting someone safely through withdrawal but it isn’t by itself a full treatment plan for the underlying disorder.

What comes next can look different from one person to another. Someone may need residential treatment or outpatient care and medication can be part of treatment for alcohol use disorder. Mental health care and pain management may matter as well. In rural communities transportation help or telehealth may also make a difference.

Better Follow-Up Needed for Veterans in Rural Areas

The period after detox deserves attention. A person can leave a hospital medically stable, and still face many of the same circumstances that contributed to drinking.

A stronger discharge plan might include a clear connection to the next level of care. Even arranging transportation to aftercare before discharge could remove one practical obstacle.

The study was small and qualitative so its findings don’t represent every rural veteran. The interviews do explain how distance and limited treatment options can shape someone’s care experience.

Those problems aren’t always something an individual can solve alone. Improving access may require changes in how rural health systems provide detox, plan discharges, arrange follow-up and connect veterans with longer-term treatment.

Finding Alcohol Detox and Continuing Care

Detox.com provides information about alcohol withdrawal, medically supervised detox and treatment options that help people move from acute stabilization into ongoing care. Call 800-996-6135Sponsored to receive assistance finding recovery options today.