Isabel Byon: 0:20

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Support, or OASAS, provides this podcast as a public service. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the agency or state. This is Addiction: The Next Step.

Jerry Gretzinger: 0:20

Hello again. And we are coming to you from the Office of Addiction Services and Supports for the Great State of New York. Want to thank you for checking out this episode of the podcast today. And we're actually going to be talking about a topic that we're very happy to be sharing with you because what we're doing is sharing some information that is very important for the men and women who've served our country. So we'll dedicate this episode to them because it is all about helping those folks, the folks who've worn the uniform for our country, who may be dealing with some substance use uh issues. And so to help us talk about this, we're bringing in someone who can talk about some comprehensive services that are offered by Samaritan Daytop Village. They've been doing this sort of thing, veteran-specific treatment for over 30 years now. And the man who's sitting here talking to me today is Brian Berry. He's the veterans outreach counselor for them. And Brian, thanks so much for taking the time today.

Brian Berry: 1:16

Thank you for having us.

Jerry Gretzinger: 1:18

So you know, I want to talk to you first about veterans-specific needs. You know, we we've spent uh close to 100 episodes now talking about the services and supports that we make to make available to New Yorkers uh uh in every single community. But obviously, when we talk about certain communities, there are certain needs and certain ways that we need to be able to present these services and supports. And I know veterans are one of those communities. What are what are some of the special considerations? Like why why is there an extra challenge when it comes to that group?

Brian Berry: 1:50

Well, uh that's a very good question. Um we we here at Samaritan recognize and and honor our veterans, um, those who you know gave their time and their dedication to supporting this country, of course. But um there is a challenge during reintegration into greater society for veterans. Uh a lot of trauma, uh, a lot of um difficulties, mental health, substance use, housing instability, and and these things are challenged, you know, to this specific population. We try to address all that by being a trauma-informed uh program. Um we recognize that the uh the trauma affects why people choose to use substances such as alcohol or maybe drugs. And of course, that trickles down into housing, employment, family. So we we like to address these things. And we have uh three dedicated facilities specifically for veterans. Yep.

Jerry Gretzinger: 2:57

So I mean, we talk about the unique challenges and the unique needs that they have. What how what do we do? How do you tailor the supports, the services, and certainly the delivery of those to to address those special challenges that that they may be facing?

Brian Berry: 3:14

The program is tailored specifically for for veterans by um engaging with the camaraderie. We keep all the veterans together. It's a structured community, uh, meaning they get up at the same time. Uh everyone's assigned a job duty. Uh it sort of brings back the military culture to the client, which is a veteran, you know, to re-engage them in some of the good things that that we have in us. You know, I myself am an Air Force veteran, and um I really got a lot out of the program. So no, no, no, uh, after you.

Jerry Gretzinger: 3:52

All right. No, I was just gonna ask, you were saying that you were uh in the military yourself. Did you see firsthand uh, you know, yourself or or others who were serving, you know, the challenges that they faced with with substance use, whatever the substance may have been, and then you know, the additional challenge of perhaps you know getting back to normal life without it, without being in the military after.

Brian Berry: 4:13

Absolutely. Um, you know, just to give you a little bit about me, in the military, you know, we're taught to be resilient. You know, we're taught that, you know, I can do this, you know, but when it comes to uh substances, alcohol, drugs, you know, uh a lot of times more is needed. You need the support of maybe a mental health expert, uh, an addiction counselor, uh, other peers, you know, who may have been doing the type of things, and and role models. So we actually include all those things. We incorporate all these structures into the program to be, you know, be able to better help the uh the clients, the veteran clients.

Jerry Gretzinger: 4:58

So, you know, you talk about uh you know peers and and having you know folks come out of the military. I just think about how and again, I I I never served and I have great respect for those who did, but from from what I know, it seems like you it's a whole nother way of life when you're in the military, right? And if you're in the military that way of life, and if during that time you were you know using some substances at whatever level it may be, you come out of the military and everything changes, right? And that's it. Absolutely.

Brian Berry: 5:26

Absolutely absolutely. Thanks for recognizing that because uh in the military culture, especially with those who are deployed, you're away from your family, you're away from your community, you're away from your spiritual, you know, your church or mosque or what have you, and you're in a totally different environment. So after that experience being reintegrated back, it looks different. It looks different. And one thing I gotta add, um alcohol is a part of military culture. Let's not get that confused. That's how we're in the military, that's how we celebrate. When we do get leave, you know, that's what we do. And it sort of becomes a lifestyle so that when that person leaves the military, he still holds on to those things. We still hold on to those things. And of course, there's OASAS, I know you guys know, these things spiral and can get out of control. And it's progressive, it's a progressive process, which may also lead to loss of job, loss of housing, loss of spousal, children, and these type of things, then they the individual loses him or herself. So uh we recognize that again by being trauma-informed. Um, and we try to we promote healthy socialization, um, you know, of course with evidence-based treatment, um, seeking safety, seeking for change, you know, various groups, but also the healthy reintegration back into society. Well, some of the few programs that actually do that. Uh, we go to Jets, Giant Games, basketball games, uh, football games, Broadway plays, and uh a host of other things, which I'll name. But that's important because I'll use myself as an example. I went to tons of sports events, and I always had, you know, a drink in my hand, you know. And uh that's not for everyone. You know, we we recognize that, that those who have these challenges of substance or alcohol abuse, you know, to sort of overcome that and learn to live a new way of life.

Jerry Gretzinger: 7:39

Yeah, and you know, and Brian, you you said before too, and I imagine this is this is a big part of it, that also part of that, you know, military lifestyle is you're taught to be resilient. You know, I can do this, you know, I'm you know, I'm I'm strong, I can I can barrel through, come home, you know, may still be using alcohol, like you were saying, it's still a part of your life. Is is there a challenge sometimes for someone who has served coming home facing these challenges to ask for help?

Brian Berry: 8:07

Absolutely, absolutely. As veterans, you know, as as we both agree, uh resilience is is primary. You know, it's all about you know the individual, and you know, we we will we will these things. And um once an individual like myself, you know, gets accustomed to using these type of mechanisms to solve problems, it gets ugly. It gets ugly. And like you said, we we we don't like to ask for help. You know, we're solid, we're prideful, put your shoulders back, chest out. And and that's sort of the um the mentality that a lot of veterans are taught and have.

Jerry Gretzinger: 8:49

Yeah. So, all right, so somebody's listening to this, somebody who's a veteran, and they're seeing themselves in a position where, all right, well, maybe maybe I'm having a difficult time handling, you know, how much alcohol I'm using. What's their first step? How do you encourage them to move in the direction of kind of getting the support that you make available?

Brian Berry: 9:09

Well, we um there's a it depends on the individual. First, our our programs are always uh based on what the individual needs or or has. Um people come from the court system, you know, they may have uh legal issues, some people come from homelessness, some people you don't have homes and jobs and are barely holding on to them, you know, and their job may say, hey, you need to do 90 days. Uh so each each uh pro each individual is is treated accordingly, of course. Um also mental health, I gotta add that because of course there's with co-occurring dependency disorder, you know, the person may be experiencing uh PTSD, um a number of other mental challenges in addition to substance use. You know, so that's a that's a dual concept. We we like to do a holistic uh approach, meaning we deal with everything at once. You know, we'll engage the individual. Hey, what do you need? What's your what's your experience? Are you indoors? You know, have you eaten? And then try to bring them in, you know. Um our program has helped thousands of individuals, and um there's still a lot of work to be done.

Jerry Gretzinger: 10:40

Yeah, talk to me about so you said has helped thousands of individuals, right? So someone makes that call, they come out, they meet with you, they they sign up for the program and they're and they're working with you now. So I you know I have some notes here on the program. It talks about you know helping veterans rediscover unique skills, right? Giving them the compassion, uh, empathetic support that they need, um, helping them reintegrate into society. Talk about those types of things. So, like if someone does make that call, they get involved, what can they anticipate? Like, like what's the path that and I know it can be different for everyone, but generally speaking, the the path to to wellness and recovery.

Brian Berry: 11:16

Generally the path will be to uh come in, speak to uh me or or some of the other staff at the veterans facility. Uh we do an assessment. Hey, you know, what are you dealing with? Uh there will be, of course, different screenings, uh, different mental health assessments. Um safety is is primary. You know, we want we like to bring them in and have them in a safe environment. Um so we could find out, you know, the type of help that they need. Once they're in, of course, uh it goes through phases. Again, this is the structured program. These are structured programs. And um after 30 days, they'll be assessed, hey, what are what are the type of things that you need? If you need a job, we'll put you in a vocational training. If you need therapy or psychiatry, we we partner with various agencies to to get uh mental health. Um we partner with uh Damien Care for physical health. You know, I I came in and had to get new teeth in my mouth. Um you know it's ugly out there. So we we we try to we help at all all aspects. I understand the question you're asking me, but it's it's so much in in a little bit of time. Uh I would love to just talk about it. Especially, again, especially the veterans uh who have been deployed. You know, there's a lot of trauma in PTSD. You know, they go into this thing. It's not just that the person drinks too much, it's it's a collection of things that have to be addressed.

Jerry Gretzinger: 13:00

Yeah. So let me ask you this too, then, you know, because someone might be wondering. We try to tell people that recovery is possible, right? Because sometimes people wonder, can I really achieve that? And we say, absolutely, yes. But if people wonder what what is recovery, like what does it mean when you when you are in recovery? You know, we say we like to tell people it's not a destination, it's it's sort of like a continuing journey.

Brian Berry: 13:24

Absolutely. Absolutely. Recovery is a journey. Uh there's hundreds of different definitions. I like the one, I believe it's in Webster's. It says uh recovery is the process of gaining everything back that once was lost. That's recovery. Um, I'll give you an example of family, you know, that's family first, of course, re-engaging with family, uh getting a better career. Dreams like going back to school. Uh I got my degree from the program, you know. Uh got connected with the VA, had a grant, and I was able to get my degree and, you know, a better job and, you know, re-engaging with my family. And and for me, the thing is giving back, you know, to be able to help the next veteran or human being to the program. That's that that's recovery.

Jerry Gretzinger: 14:24

And and Brian, I I just so we've kind of talked around it. We haven't addressed it directly, but you made a couple references to it. You don't just work with the program, but uh from what you're telling us, you you went through the program. You benefited benefited from it yourself.

Brian Berry: 14:37

Absolutely. Uh I am a uh like the hair club for men. I'm also a client. Uh yeah, I went through the Ed Thompson Veterans Facility, um and stayed for a year. And again, it's beyond my wildest dreams. What I got from that little bit of time uh helped me to get my life together. Helped me to get my life together, helped me to get my family back, helped me to get my career uh back online, uh becoming a productive member of society. It's it's a beautiful thing. And we also have the 43rd Street Veterans, and a lot of people don't talk. We have um the women's veteran program up in Ellenville. Uh we had a recovery day yesterday, and they gave a great show. Um I'll give you the links. If anyone's interested, they can see it. Uh, they did the color guard. It's a beautiful thing. Um, Samaritan in itself is a fantastic organization. But I'm here to talk about the veterans program. So stick to that.

Jerry Gretzinger: 15:44

Well, and let me say this, Brian. So we we love uh hearing stories like this that someone like yourself who went through a program, benefited from the program, and then made it their mission to help others experience similar success. So uh so we applaud you for for doing that as well. And it's definitely the type of story we love sharing.

Brian Berry: 16:03

Thank you very much. Thanks for having me. It's uh it's an honor and a privilege, and um hope to see you again.

Jerry Gretzinger: 16:09

All right. And so, Brian, I was gonna ask quick. If somebody wants to find out more about the programs from Samaritan, I'm assuming they can go on a website. We can share the information here. Is that the best way to go about it?

Brian Berry: 16:20

Um if someone is interested in coming into Samaritan, yes, they can, of course, they can go on the website, SamaritanVillage.org. Uh, for the veterans, they can contact me directly. It's the shameless plug. My number is 929-933-0822. Brian Berry, I'm the Veterans Outreach Coordinator.

Jerry Gretzinger: 16:39

Now, I'll tell you, that's the first time I think on one of these podcasts somebody gave out their own number. So this guy's serious. He means business. So Brian, really, thank you so much for sharing all the information and your own number so that people can reach out. I'm going to share another number now. We always want to make sure people know that any time of day, any day of the week, you can reach out and talk to somebody on our Hopel ine. 877-8 -Hope NY. 877-8- HopeNY. There's always somebody there to talk to you. I'm Jerry Gretzinger, your host. I want to thank Brian Berry again for sitting down and talking to us today. And until we talk to you next time, be well.