Endeavors

Mission Recovery Program

People with substance use disorders (SUD) are more likely than those without SUD to experience co-occurring mental health disorders (COD) such as major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Both the COVID-19 pandemic, and now the current events in Afghanistan, have caused increased stress and isolation, exacerbating the conditions in which addiction thrives. Untreated SUD presents a barrier to veterans’ mental health treatment. Patients may revert to substance use to cope with the stress of intensive clinical treatment, which can prevent them from developing healthy coping mechanisms. Additionally, patients taking prescribed medications for mental health disorders may be disqualified from traditional peer recovery groups that require abstinence from all drugs. The Mission Recovery Program (MRP) seeks to address gaps in behavioral health services by increasing Endeavors’ capacity to offer integrated, evidence-based treatment to veterans presenting with COD and/or SUD. This funding will provide 45 veterans with evidence-based treatment for substance use and co-occurring disorders to reduce mental health symptoms and promote skills that reduce the reliance on substances to cope with stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic and current world events. Endeavors will provide sober living vouchers to 20 of those veterans to help them access stable, sober housing to support their recovery.