A Temple, Texas, veteran is building a new resource for service members facing addiction, and his work points to why veterans searching for addiction treatment centers in Texas often look for programs that understand military life. While The Longhorn State features over 2,000 centers for substance misuse, services that cater to veterans remain relatively uncommon, which is where Steve Watt came in.
Steve Watt is a Marine Corps veteran and founder of Recovered and Motivated. His program centers on a recovery curriculum for veterans who are working through addiction, substance use disorders and trauma as they return to civilian life.
“The biggest mission that we had in the military was that you never left a man behind,” Watt told reporters. He emphasized how “recovery is the same thing. You never leave somebody behind.”
The Veterans Recovery Battle Plan Works
The program, called the Veterans Recovery Battle Plan, features a structured five-week curriculum to promote healthy support systems. Programs include group sessions, a participant workbook and planning tools aimed at long-term recovery. Watt designed his battle plan around a common reality that veterans face. A lot of insurance plans cover up to five weeks of treatment. That way, participants can graduate with tools and a longer-term plan.
“The biggest thing we find in the military world,” Watt observed, “is structure and routine.” Rather than market it to individuals, Watt wants the curriculum in treatment centers, veteran organizations and recovery group programs, and he has started a crowdfunding campaign to cover printing and scholarship copies for veterans and nonprofits.
Understanding Veteran Addiction
Veterans can face added risks in recovery, including combat-related trauma, chronic pain and the stress of returning to civilian life. Substance use and conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder often occur together.
Common signs of addiction include needing more of a substance to feel the same effect, withdrawing from family and routines, and continuing to use despite harm. Watt, who identifies as a survivor of alcohol use disorder, says peer support makes a difference: “If you do it with somebody and you use that support, it’s amazing.”
Addiction Treatment in Texas and Beyond
For veterans and families in Central Texas, local options range from VA programs to community treatment centers that offer detox and inpatient and outpatient care. Useful next steps include searching addiction treatment centers throughout Texas or anywhere in the USA via our directory. You can find centers that confirm your insurance or VA benefits coverage. Or, simply reach out and dial [NUMBER] to chat with an expert and discuss local options.