Addiction treatment near Lackland, Fort Sam Houston, and Randolph

Joint Base San Antonio is one of the largest military installations in the United States, comprising three main component bases: Lackland AFB on the west side of San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston near downtown, and Randolph AFB in Universal City to the northeast. Each has its own substance abuse program entry point, its own behavioral health resources, and different access patterns to the broader TRICARE-covered network for higher levels of care.

This page explains the access path at each installation and what civilian options are available nearby for the levels of care that require treatment outside the base.

Lackland AFB: Air Force ADAPT and Wilford Hall

ADAPT at Lackland

Air Force personnel at Lackland AFB access substance use services through ADAPT , Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment. ADAPT provides initial assessment, education programs, outpatient counseling, and referral coordination for higher levels of care. Self-referral to ADAPT is accepted and carries stronger confidentiality protections than command referral.

When a service member self-refers to ADAPT, the commander is notified that the member is in treatment but not the specific substance or clinical details. This notification is separate from a disciplinary process. See our guide on self-referral vs command notification at JBSA for the full explanation of what information goes where.

ADAPT at Lackland can be reached through the Lackland behavioral health clinic. For appointment scheduling and self-referral inquiries, contact the 559th Medical Group at Wilford Hall.

Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center

Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center (WHASC) at Lackland is a major Military Health System facility with behavioral health and mental health services. Referrals to WHASC for substance use or co-occurring mental health treatment come through your PCM or through ADAPT. WHASC coordinates referrals to civilian TRICARE-covered facilities when higher levels of care (residential, PHP) are needed and military treatment facility capacity is limited.

Civilian facilities near Lackland

The Medical Center area on the northwest side of San Antonio , directly north of Lackland , has the highest concentration of civilian healthcare providers in the city. Multiple TRICARE-certified treatment facilities operate in this corridor. Call TriWest at 1-888-874-9378 to verify in-network status for any specific facility before making an appointment. The drive from Lackland to the Medical Center area is typically 15 to 20 minutes.

Fort Sam Houston: Army ASAP and SAMMC

ASAP at Fort Sam Houston

Army personnel at Fort Sam Houston access substance use services through ASAP , the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program. ASAP provides initial assessment, enrollment in substance abuse treatment, monitoring, and referral coordination. Army Regulation 600-85 governs the program. Self-referral to ASAP is encouraged and provides significant protections , a soldier who self-refers cannot be punitively separated solely for seeking treatment.

ASAP also coordinates mandatory command referrals when soldiers are identified through positive drug tests or conduct incidents. Self-referral and command referral result in different documentation and different outcomes , self-referral before any incident places a soldier in a much stronger position under AR 600-85.

ASAP at Fort Sam Houston can be contacted through the post’s behavioral health resources. The address is on the Fort Sam Houston main installation in northeast San Antonio.

San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC)

SAMMC is the major military hospital at Fort Sam Houston and provides inpatient behavioral health services for eligible patients, including inpatient treatment for co-occurring conditions. SAMMC is a Level I trauma center and one of the largest military medical centers in the DoD. Inpatient behavioral health care at SAMMC requires a referral through ASAP or through a PCM. SAMMC also has consultation services for complex co-occurring cases including TBI, PTSD, and substance use disorder in combat veterans.

Civilian facilities near Fort Sam Houston

Fort Sam Houston is located near downtown San Antonio, with civilian treatment providers accessible throughout the metro area. The northeast corridor and downtown medical district both have TRICARE-certified providers. Contact TriWest at 1-888-874-9378 to verify in-network status for any civilian facility you are considering. Community care referrals through the VA MISSION Act can also provide access to civilian residential treatment for VA-enrolled veterans at Fort Sam Houston who need higher levels of care than the VA can provide within access standards.

Randolph AFB: Air Force ADAPT at Randolph

ADAPT at Randolph

Air Force personnel at Randolph AFB in Universal City access substance use services through ADAPT at Randolph. The program provides the same functions as ADAPT at Lackland , assessment, counseling, and referral coordination , but serves the Randolph installation specifically. Self-referral to ADAPT at Randolph carries the same protections as at Lackland: commander notification of treatment status without clinical details.

Randolph is located approximately 20 miles northeast of downtown San Antonio, in Universal City. Civilian treatment providers are accessible throughout the metro area, with the closest concentrations in northeast San Antonio and the 410/I-35 corridor. Contact ADAPT at Randolph through the 902nd Medical Group for appointment scheduling and self-referral.

Civilian proximity from Randolph

From Randolph, the major civilian treatment facilities in San Antonio are 25 to 40 minutes by car, depending on traffic. Several smaller outpatient providers operate closer to Universal City and Schertz. For residential or PHP-level care, most TRICARE-covered options require traveling into the city. TriWest at 1-888-874-9378 can identify the closest in-network residential or intensive outpatient programs to Randolph.

What is and is not available on base

All three JBSA installations provide assessment, outpatient counseling, and referral coordination through their substance abuse programs. What is typically not available directly on the smaller bases , and what requires referral to SAMMC or to civilian TRICARE-covered facilities , is higher levels of care: medical detox, residential inpatient treatment, and intensive partial hospitalization programs.

If your clinical situation requires detox or residential treatment, your branch’s substance abuse program (ASAP, ADAPT, SARP) initiates the referral to the appropriate level of care , either at SAMMC (for Army) or to a TRICARE-contracted civilian facility. For active-duty, this process is covered fully under TRICARE Prime with no cost-sharing.

Do not let the referral process deter you from seeking help. The process is straightforward and the branch programs exist specifically to facilitate it.

For family members living in JBSA communities

Spouses and dependent family members of service members at JBSA are covered under TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select depending on their enrollment. Military treatment facilities see eligible family members, though capacity and wait times vary. For civilian network care, TriWest authorizes covered civilian providers throughout the San Antonio metro area.

Family members in JBSA communities , Schertz, Cibolo, Universal City, Converse, Live Oak , have access to civilian TRICARE-covered providers in San Antonio. The drive from most JBSA communities to central San Antonio treatment facilities is typically 20 to 35 minutes. For a spouse who needs residential care, proximity during treatment is worth discussing with the admissions team , some facilities allow family visits during residential stays.