Stand Down San Diego Serves Military Veterans Substance Abuse, an Ongoing Problem

Two of my coworkers at Lasting Recovery had the privilege of being a part of Stand Down San Diego over the  weekend of July 15^th through July 17, 2011. This is an annual event for homeless veterans organized by Veterans Village of San Diego. Veterans Village is a nationally recognized non-profit which  offers a strict residential substance abuse treatment regimen. For many homeless vets Stand Down gives them a much needed respite from life on the streets.  The main goal of this 3-day event is to offer hope. Sometimes, this is all that is needed to turn someone in need toward a better future.

The Veterans Administration (VA) estimates that 107,000 veterans are homeless nationally on any given night. Due in part to the large Navy and Marine bases located here, San Diego County is home to the largest population of young veterans , about 28,000. The unemployment rate for post 9/11 vets remains at 13% compared to the nation’s rate of 9%.  In addition to the complex set of factors influencing all homelessness , a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse (76% experience alcohol, drug or mental health problems), which are compounded by a lack of family and social support networks.

On Friday July 15^th, more than 900 veterans signed in at San Diego High School for this Stand Down event. There were so many people who wanted to help serve these homeless veterans that Stand Down organizers had to turn some away. That says a lot about the people here in San Diego and the gratitude we have toward our military!

The veterans who signed up were there to spend 2 nights on a cot, along with 3 hot meals and plenty of assistance in many life matters.  During this 3 day event, they had access to free medical care, haircuts, dental care and many other essentials of life not always available to them.

Both of my coworkers volunteered in the holistic tent which offered massages and acupuncture. We know here at Lasting Recovery that acupuncture treatments have been shown through research to dramatically reduce the symptoms of alcohol and drug withdrawal.  In one study Therapists who work with patients suffering from alcoholism, state that patients who were not exposed to acupuncture experienced a relapse rate nearly twice that of patients who underwent the practice.

Unfortunately, experts predict that in coming years, we will see more young vets join the ranks of the homeless. This is due in part to PTSD and the impact of multiple deployments on the military and their families. For many veterans it is about letting go of the past or at least dealing with it in different ways. For some that requires professional help before they can move forward again with their lives.

Lasting Recovery is a TRICARE Certified Facility for treatment of substance use disorders. If you or someone you love needs help, please give us a call, (858) 453-4315.  We provide Intensive Outpatient Treatment, 9-12 hours a week, and Partial Hospitalization Programs 15-30 hours a week. We are here to help!


Judy Saalinger, Ph.D., MFT, CAS
Co-Founder and Executive Director