Army Vet's Near-Death Moment Sparks Hope for Veterans Battling Addiction Crisis
Wisconsin Eagle/10309958

MILWAUKEE - WisconsinEagle -- On the latest episode of The Transform U! Live Show, host Marcus Hart, a combat veteran and mental health advocate, sits down with Nick Padlo, Army veteran and CEO of Sophros Recovery, to tackle the hidden cost of addiction recovery for veterans. With rehab costs in states like Wisconsin ($49,303) outpacing veteran incomes ($47,361), and VA mental health care delays averaging 17 days, veterans are fighting a losing battle against addiction and PTSD. Nick's raw story—from a near-fatal night in a Dallas hotel to building a lifeline for others—offers hope and solutions.

Nick Padlo, a West Point grad and Bronze Star recipient, served 27 months in combat before depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder nearly took his life. "I was in a hotel room with a 9mm, trying to decide if it was my last day," Nick shared. Instead, he chose to fight, finding recovery through rehab and later founding Sophros Recovery, a North Florida outpatient program that's redefining addiction treatment. Unlike traditional rehabs, Sophros integrates trauma-informed care, like Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and holistic tools like mindfulness to help veterans and civilians build a "toolkit" for real-world recovery.

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The episode, titled "Veteran's Darkest Night to New Dawn: Addiction Recovery Secrets Revealed," dives into the affordability crisis crushing veterans. In Wisconsin, rehab costs exceed incomes by 104%, and VA delays leave many without timely care. Nick's solution? Advocate fiercely. "Raise hell if you have to," he says, urging veterans to leverage the VA's Community Care Network for 100% covered treatment at places like Sophros. For those without VA access, he suggests affordable insurance plans to bridge the gap.Nick also addresses the opioid crisis, noting that only 35% of veterans with opioid use disorder receive medication-assisted treatment (MAT) through the VA. Sophros offers MAT like Suboxone and Vivitrol, paired with therapy to reframe unhealthy thoughts and rebuild lives. "Nothing changes if nothing changes."

Marcus Hart, a Milwaukee-based veteran who's battled PTSD and addiction himself, connects deeply with Nick's mission. "This is what transformation looks like," Hart says. "From the gut-punch of rehab costs to the hope of innovative therapies, Nick's flipping the script for veterans and anyone stuck in chaos."

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Nick emphasizes, encouraging one simple step: call 988, hit an AA meeting, or reach out to Sophros at https://sophrosrecovery.com or 904-440-1479. Watch the episode on YouTube (https://youtu.be/tgj9wN4lRuw)