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September is National Recovery Month. For those who find the month-long dedication to recovery something to scoff at, listen up. It's a step in the right direction.

Veterans dealing with substance abuse and PTSD suffer as much from stigma as they do from these very real illnesses. Much has been written on this topic of addiction and stigma among our vets, yet the elephant is still sitting square in the middle of the room. The admonitions to resist such prejudice have been unrelenting and consistent.

Over the past decade, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense have expanded their efforts to meet the mental health needs of our service men and women. In particular, a better understanding of post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury (TBI) has led to major changes in how the healthcare community addresses veterans' needs.

June 27 marks Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day, a day meant to stimulate discussion and promote understanding for an affliction that affects 20% of our returning veterans.  And yet despite its prevalence among those who saw combat, it is often a misunderstood condition among the general public. Commonly stereotyped as being weak, unstable or prone to violence, many veterans suffering from PTSD must contend with stigma as well as trauma.   

I served as an intelligence officer in the United States Marine Corps, during which time I was trained in the art of stealing secrets, and the discipline of keeping them.  Other than the operators with whom I served, I refrained from openly discussing my job or my missions in Iraq with anyone. 

For veterans struggling with substance abuse, getting help can seem all but impossible. The stigma attached to addiction and trauma keeps too many veterans out of treatment -- whether it's the warrior ethos that's been instilled throughout their service or the fear of consequences for admitting they need help.

We know treatment works.

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