Col C David Merkel MD - Veterans Residential Program

Veteran- and First Responder-Focused Residential Care

The program provides specialized residential treatment for veterans and first responders. The program is designed for adult men and offers a full continuum of residential services, including stabilization, rehabilitation, and reintegration. Admissions are confidential, and transportation assistance may be available for admission and discharge, helping clients reach care even when travel is a barrier.

Trauma-Informed Treatment with MAT

Care addresses substance use, gambling, trauma, post-traumatic stress (PTSD), chronic pain, anger, grief, and other co-occurring mental health concerns. The program uses evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), anger management, relapse prevention, substance use counseling, and trauma-related counseling, along with 12-step work. Medications for addiction treatment (MAT) are available for alcohol and opioid use disorders. Clients also have access to medications for mental health needs, HIV, and hepatitis C, supported by 24/7 medical care and telehealth options.

Nature-Based Activities

The campus is set in the Adirondacks and offers outdoor space, gardens, walking paths, and ready access to nature. A typical day includes multiple group sessions focused on topics such as relapse prevention, PTSD, mindfulness, and spirituality. Clients can work out at the gym and may work with a personal trainer. Trauma-informed yoga and meditation support mind–body healing. Weekends often include hiking, fishing, camping, and opportunities to connect with the surrounding community or visit the nearby town, with evenings reserved for relaxing, watching TV, and staying in touch with family.

Reintegration, Life Skills, and Community Support

Treatment stays are flexible, with many clients remaining for six to nine months to focus on long-term recovery. Services such as recovery coaching, peer mentoring, housing support, assistance with social services, employment counseling or training, social skills development, and vocational or educational support help clients rebuild routines, income, and community ties. Discharge planning, aftercare, naloxone and overdose education, and outcome follow-up support continued stability after residential care.

Spiritual Health and Whole-Person Recovery

Spiritual health is integrated into the broader treatment approach. The program is grounded in a belief in each person’s inherent dignity and worth, and spiritual care is offered as an optional part of treatment. The Spiritual Health team focuses on helping clients reconnect with themselves, with others, and with a sense of meaning that feels authentic to them. This holistic focus, combined with clinical care and community-based activities, supports recovery that extends beyond substance use to include purpose, relationships, and overall well-being.