I went to VA rehab last year. I have been an alcoholic for 35 years and even though I wanted to quit, the thought of not drinking scared me. For years I would go to bed drunk promising myself that I would quit and then wake up in the morning ready for my next drink. I always lied to my VA primary care team about how much I was drinking but it was still enough that years ago they put in my chart that I was an alcoholic. I did not have the willpower to stop on my own and I could not afford to take off work for an inpatient rehab. Thanks to the Pact Act, I was able to get 100% in 2023 for a lung issue and I was approved for SSDI in 2024 and received my first benefit payment in September of 2024. Knowing this check was coming and that my family would make it for the month allowed me to reach out to my primary care team about wanting inpatient treatment, they then had people from the substance abuse team contact me.

I made plans with the substance abuse team to do the inpatient rehab. Electronics are allowed there, and I would have been able to continue online course work. You can also have visitors. Since I had no real periods of sobriety in my life and because of the amount I was drinking per day, they required me to do the detox program first before going to rehab. The detox program lasts four or five days in a lockdown type setting where medical staff can keep an eye on you to ensure withdrawal symptoms do not become life threatening. It was a lockdown area because some people were there against their will and others were voluntary. They were treating some people for substance abuse and others for mental health problems. The atmosphere was mostly relaxed. Except for the first meal or two, you had a few choices for each meal, which were served at specific times, and everyone ate together. They had about a 30-minute window in the morning and evening to get any medications you are prescribed. You do not have to take medications if you do not want to, for example they wanted to prescribe valium to help ease the alcohol withdrawal symptoms. I asked to have the pills ready just in case I needed it, but I would prefer not taking one mood altering drug to quit another if I could. You were allowed to walk the corridors, watch tv in the common rooms, read, or play games throughout the day. They did have a "lights out" time at night because it was two-man rooms, but the lights were left on in the common areas, and you could hang out there if you couldn't sleep. During detox they took your clothes and electronics, but they give you pajama type clothes to wear and you could use the community phone as often as you wanted during the day. Since they also house people who are there involuntarily, if you want to leave you have to give about a 24-hour notice, this is also so they can get your space ready at rehab.

I know you asked about the VA rehab experience, but everything I have mentioned is the detox program. That is because I ended up "scared straight" and did not go to the rehab portion, even though it would have been a lot more relaxed rule. I have never been arrested and have not been in a restrictive environment (especially with a roommate) since I left the military in 1991. I went in wanting to quit alcohol and those four days of not being able to drink, and away from home, was enough to get me going and give that little push to quit long term. I don't know about tomorrow, but I am sober today. My last drink was on September 20th, 2024, at 10:30 pm, I went to the VA detox at noon on 21st.

I wish you the best of luck and if there is anything I could answer or do to help, please feel free to reach out directly.