Those who answer the call to defend our nation give their all to ensure our safety and peace of mind. It is our great honor and privilege to do the same for them in their time of need.
Pura Vida’s community-focused care model is uniquely suited to treating military patients and their families suffering from issues like addiction, trauma, and isolation.
Video by Brian Clark at Napa Valley Creative
Addiction in the military is more common than you might think. It can arise out of routine circumstances like taking legitimate prescriptions for a medical issue or after-work drinks with friends. These behaviors are perfectly normal; but lurking factors like trauma, stress, and loneliness can sometimes cause usage to increase in severity over time. When this begins to harm a person’s health or hinder their daily functioning, it becomes a substance use disorder, or “SUD”.
SUD’s can involve painkillers, stimulants, sedatives, hallucinogens, cannabis, and other drugs, but alcohol remains the most prevalent substance of abuse among people suffering from addiction, particularly in the military.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), military personnel and Veterans have a higher rate of substance abuse and mental health issues compared to the civilian community. This is particularly true among male Veterans between the ages of 18-25.
Though caring for our Veteran and active-duty patients is a tremendous privilege, we want to also acknowledge their family members as well. We regularly extol the sacrifices military service demands of soldiers, but don’t often speak about its impact on their loved ones. Frequent moves and deployment isolation can set the stage for a host of behavioral health issues. Even once their tour ends, trauma has an insidious way of following soldiers home from the battlefield and taking root among the family.
A 2015 SAMHSA Study observed that 31.5% of military spouses self-reported binge drinking within the last year, and 12.8% reported use of illicit drugs. These rates are roughly 11-14% higher than among civilian spouses. Similarly, 29.1% of military spouses surveyed reported suffering from at least one mental illness within the past year, an increase of about 10% compared to civilian spouses of the same age.
Pura Vida holds a special certification as a ‘Veteran Ready Organization’ from PsychArmor, a nationally recognized non-profit leader and preferred training partner for Military cultural awareness. This prestigious distinction signifies that our staff has received expert education on core issues unique to military patients and their family members and are ready to provide informed, effective, and compassionate care. PsychArmor’s comprehensive curriculum covers topics such as PTSD, grief & survivor’s guilt, traumatic brain injury, deployment isolation, military suicide risk assessment & firearm safety, and more.
Additionally, we are proud to have a USAF Veteran and double board-certified physician serving as our Medical Director. As the leader of our accomplished medical team, Dr. Roderick Fontenette’s first-hand military experience provides a safe, understanding environment for current and former military members, as well as their families, to recover and reclaim their lives.
“As a former service member, I know firsthand the impact deployment can have, both on soldiers and their loved ones. Fighting substance abuse, mental illness, and suicide among military families is the greatest calling of my heart.
As the Medical Director for Pura Vida, it means the world to me to be able to provide for the health and well-being of these patients. I am so proud to work for an organization that recognizes this need and is ready to respond with life-saving resources in service of those who serve and their loved ones.”
Pura Vida is in network with TriCare as well as TriWest Healthcare Alliance, through the VA’s Office of Community Care. If approved**, treatment can cost as little as $0 out of pocket.
**Please Note: Clients wishing to use their TriWest or TriCare benefits must undergo an assessment and obtain a referral from their Primary Care Manager (PCM) to attend treatment. Your PCM may make alternative recommendations based on your case. If you do not have a Primary Care Manager, contact your local VA office (Veterans) or Tricare affiliated medical office (active duty & families) to schedule your assessment.
