Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. (Memphis) VA Medical Center

About Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. (Memphis) VA Medical Center

Memphis VA Medical Center is a Veteran focused substance use treatment program in Memphis, Tennessee offering addiction and mental health care for Veterans across the Mid-South.

The campus provides a continuum that includes outpatient, intensive outpatient and residential substance use disorder treatment.

Care is designed around Veteran specific needs, integrating addiction recovery with mental health support, PTSD care and transition assistance.

Addiction Treatment Programs

The Chemical Dependency Center offers a full continuum of care, allowing Veterans to begin at the level that fits their needs, from outpatient counseling to residential treatment with 24 hour therapeutic and educational programming.

Evaluation and assessment help match each Veteran to the appropriate level of support.

Clients can expect individual therapy, group therapy and medication based support when appropriate.

Approaches include CBT, motivational interviewing/MET and 12 step facilitation, SMART Recovery and Seeking Safety, mindfulness groups and contingency management, with co-occurring mental health conditions such as PTSD, depression and anxiety addressed as part of care.

What to Know

Location: Memphis, Tennessee near the Jefferson Avenue and North Pauline Street intersection in the medical district
Levels of care: Outpatient, intensive outpatient and residential substance use disorder treatment
Who they treat: Veterans, including homeless, women, minority and post 9/11 Veterans, and those with dual diagnosis
Approach: Evidence based and trauma informed care with counseling, group therapy and telehealth options
Payment options: Services are available to eligible Veterans as part of VA health benefits
Amenities: Main medical center campus with 24/7 access and wheelchair availability on arrival

Edited by: Natalie Scott

Addiction Treatment Programs

Alcohol Rehab
Alcohol rehab in Tennessee provides professional treatment to help clients overcome alcohol misuse and build a substance-free life. In an alcohol program you’ll not only receive treatment, but you’ll participate in activities, receive peer support, and learn how to have fun without alcohol.
Dual Diagnosis
It’s common to have both a mental health disorder and substance use problems. The right rehab in Tennessee can treat both issues. In dual diagnosis programs, the activities, peer support, and counseling are tailored to the unique needs of those with mental health concerns. This may include additional therapy, medication, or peer support.
Opioid Addiction
If you’re looking to break free of opioid addiction, a high-quality rehab in Tennessee can help. Common services include counseling and classes on coping skills, emotional management, communication, and other key life skills. Opioid rehab programs can provide inpatient or outpatient treatment.
Adult Program
An adult program in Tennessee helps clients overcome substance use and address issues such as employment and family. In an adult program, the activities, peer support, and counseling are tailored to the unique needs of this age group. This may include talking about how to build a career, raise a family, and handle the many responsibilities of independent living.
Senior Rehab
The best way to achieve long-term recovery, if you are older in Tennessee, may be to find a senior rehab. In the senior program, the activities, peer support, and counseling are tailored to the unique needs of older clients. This may include pain management education, lower-impact exercise, and outings that are accessible to those with mobility challenges.
LGBTQ Friendly Rehab
The best way to achieve long-term recovery if you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community in Tennessee may be to find an LGBTQ+ friendly rehab. These treatment programs offer detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient care tailored to the unique needs and challenges of the LGBTQ+ community.
Military Rehab
Being a military member or veteran is uniquely challenging. Choose a military rehab in Tennessee to get the support you need to overcome addiction and learn new life skills. In a military program, the activities, peer support, and counseling are tailored to the unique needs of service members and veterans. This may include trauma-informed care, treatment for PTSD, stress management, and more.
Men's Rehab
Those who join a men’s rehab program in Tennessee are given training in key life skills to help them address their unique challenges. In a men’s program, the activities, peer support, and counseling are tailored to the unique needs of men. This may include talking about career development, fatherhood, communication strategies, and more.
Women's Rehab
Women need unique support, and a women’s rehab in Tennessee can help them manage gender-specific concerns while overcoming addiction. In a women’s program, the activities, peer support, and counseling are tailored to the unique needs women have. This may include talking about building a career, motherhood, relationship safety, and more.
Young Adult Rehab
A young adult rehab in Tennessee can provide every level of care while addressing the unique needs of young adults. In a young adult program, the activities, peer support, and counseling are tailored to the unique needs of this age group. This may include talking about how to start a career, have a family, and live independently.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
The Memphis VA Medical Center offers medication-assisted treatment using buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone for opioid and alcohol use disorders, combined with counseling and behavioral therapies.
PTSD Treatment Program
Veterans at this Memphis facility receive evidence-based PTSD therapies, often integrated with substance use disorder care to address co-occurring trauma and addiction needs in one treatment plan.
Military Sexual Trauma Care
Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center provides free treatment for mental and physical health conditions related to military sexual trauma, available to Veterans of any gender.
Homeless Veteran Care
The facility connects homeless or at-risk Veterans in the Memphis area with substance use treatment, mental health care, and housing resources as part of an integrated support approach.
Suicide Prevention Services
Veterans in crisis can reach confidential, qualified responders through the Memphis VA Medical Center’s suicide prevention services, coordinated alongside mental health and substance use care.
Telehealth Services
The Memphis VA facility offers telehealth options including VA Video Connect and secure messaging, allowing Veterans to access mental health and substance use disorder care remotely.

Insurance Coverage

Private insurance
In Tennessee, using private insurance to pay for rehab can allow you to get the care you need. You’ll want to find a treatment center that’s in-network with your coverage and contact the insurer to find out details about coverage and out-of-pocket costs.
Self-pay options
There are many payment options for rehab in Tennessee, including self-pay. This option, also known as private pay, allows you to write a check, use a medical loan, or send money to the center electronically. The fee structure may vary depending on the type of care.
Financial aid
One option for paying for rehab in Tennessee, if you’re struggling, is using financial aid programs. You may be able to find aid through community groups in your area, and individual treatment centers may offer grants and scholarships as well.
Military insurance
If you’re looking for ways to pay for rehab in Tennessee, consider using military insurance if you’re a military member or veteran. Your insurance plan can pay for some or all of the costs of rehab, although you will want to contact the insurer for full details. You may have some out-of-pocket costs such as copays or deductibles.
Medicare
In Tennessee, Medicare is one of your options when it comes to paying for rehab. Your coverage can pay some or all of the costs of rehab. Different Medicare plans have different coverage details, and it’s important to choose a center that accepts your plan.
Sliding scale payment assistance
One way to pay for rehab in Tennessee is to find programs with a sliding scale payment plan. Centers offer detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient care on a sliding scale basis, where you pay less based on your income and family size.

Levels of Care

1
Detox Treatment
The facility’s addiction and substance use care includes detoxification services for Veterans, delivered as part of a broader continuum spanning inpatient and outpatient substance use disorder programs.
2
Inpatient Rehab
Eligible Veterans at the Memphis VA Medical Center can access residential rehabilitation treatment programs offering more intensive, structured care for substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders.
3
Outpatient Rehab
Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center in Memphis provides outpatient substance use disorder treatment including individual and group counseling, medication-assisted treatment, and recovery support services.
4
Aftercare Support
Having long-term support and encouragement is vital for long-term recovery, and aftercare in Tennessee provides those resources. A strong aftercare program can include ongoing counseling, education and employment support, housing services, and connections to community resources.
5
Sober Living Homes
Accessing sober living in Tennessee is a way to reduce the risk of relapse, helping you establish long-term recovery. Sober living is only one part of long-term recovery. You may also want to connect with ongoing counseling, 12-step or other support groups, education and employment support, and community resources.
6
Partial Hospitalization Program
There are multiple options for addiction treatment in Tennessee. Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) allow you to live at home or in sober living while receiving intensive treatment. PHPs include multiple approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and holistic therapy options.

Therapies

Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy acknowledges that your thinking impacts your emotions and actions and helps you create healthier thought patterns. CBT can help you identify and challenge maladaptive thoughts, calm your mind, and face your fears rationally.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical behavioral therapy acknowledges that your confidence and coping skills have a big impact on your substance use habits. DBT can help you replace problem behaviors with skills that give you a healthier way to manage stress and handle substance use triggers.
Experiential Therapy
Experiential therapy in Tennessee gives you a unique way to express your emotions, which helps you overcome challenges that are holding you back from a better life. Substance use treatment includes detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient care, and experiential therapy may be a part of each of these stages. The goal is to help clients work through their emotions using healthy strategies instead of substance use.
Family Therapy
Talking about what we’re going through is an important way to heal, and family therapy in Tennessee gives you that opportunity. You have a safe environment to address challenging relationships, trauma, and other issues. Family therapy is a common part of both inpatient and outpatient substance use treatment, and may be used to help address trauma, build better relationships, and help loved ones become part of your support network.
Group Therapy
The Memphis VA facility provides group therapy sessions as part of its substance use disorder treatment, supporting Veterans working through addiction and recovery together in a structured setting.
Individual Therapy
Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center offers one-on-one counseling for Veterans addressing substance use disorders alongside co-occurring conditions like PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
Trauma Therapy
The facility offers evidence-based trauma-focused therapies for PTSD, including support for Veterans affected by military sexual trauma, integrated with substance use disorder treatment services.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy is used at the Memphis VA Medical Center to help Veterans address substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions such as PTSD and depression.