Top Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees for Service Members, Veterans, and Military Spouses

You don’t have to be in the military for very long before you realize how seriously Uncle Sam takes substance abuse prevention. One of the first things most American military recruits experience on arrival at boot camp is a last chance opportunity to ditch any illicit substances they may have brought along with them. A drug test is mandatory before you are processed in, and random tests are a fact of life in the ranks.

Yet, chances are, you’re also all too familiar with a battle buddy who has fallen prey to a substance use disorder (SUD).

According to 2019 data from the National Institute on Drug abuse, over 10 percent of vets present with a substance use disorder on their first visit to a VA medical facility.

That goes hand-in-hand with the mental health strains that many vets bring home from the service. Self-medicating leads right into alcohol and chemical dependency problems.

Because you’ve served, because you are loyal and committed, and because you’ve seen the destruction of substance abuse firsthand, you are probably driven to do something about it. And with your veteran and military educational benefits, you can get the degree you need to make a difference for anyone experiencing a substance use disorder.

Why You Should Look at the Military Services Available at the Schools You’re Considering for Your Addiction Counseling Degree

There are good reasons for veterans and other military-affiliated students to look over their options with a slightly different set of considerations than other SUD students.

Maybe the most important is the slightly different financial considerations that come with military service. The generosity of the federal GI Bill®, various state-level supports, and numerous other grants, fee exemptions, and other programs can completely cover the cost of a degree in SUD counseling… but only at schools that fully participate in or are eligible for such programs.

There’s also the additional transitional support that vets often need. A highly structured military environment isn’t the best introduction to a freewheeling college campus lifestyle. Vets benefit from additional academic advising, counseling services, and administrative assistance navigating the jungle of options and opportunities.

Finally, as you already know, you can simply benefit from having your comrades close by. In education as in addiction counseling as in the military, simply having people around you who get what you’re going through and can offer support and advice is invaluable. Military friendly colleges offer that sort of environment.

How We Found the Best Schools for Veterans and Military-Affiliated Students Earning Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees

Since we just told you the reasons you might look for certain kinds of schools as a veteran, it will come as no surprise that we have some ideas about how to identify them.

First is the demonstrated level of financial support they offer to vets. Although Uncle Sam is usually on the hook to pick up most of the tab for your education, particularly at the bachelor’s level, you want to know that your school is willing to invest in your future directly, too.

One way to know that is to look at schools that participate in the VA Yellow Ribbon program. That’s a partnership between colleges and the VA where the school chips in for any tuition costs over and above the VA max per-credit payment to ensure you can still attend at no cost.

With most public universities in most states, Yellow Ribbon isn’t a consideration because the state either covers excess tuition or offers in-state rates to all vets. It’s at private universities that those Yellow Ribbon benefits can offer steep discounts that bring your costs to zero.

Not many students actually need to take advantage of Yellow Ribbon. If you look at schools that offer it, though, you know you are looking at a college that puts real money into veterans’ education.