VHA AUGMENTS RESOURCES TO PROVIDE TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

VHA AUGMENTS RESOURCES TO PROVIDE TREATMENT  FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

WASHINGTON – The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is strengthening its programs for substance use disorders by adding counselors to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) teams at medical centers nationwide, increasing intensive outpatient treatment programs and conducting specialized training for providers. 

Under Secretary for Health Dr. Michael J. Kussman has approved augmenting PTSD teams with drug and alcohol treatment specialists so that both problems may be addressed more effectively and efficiently.

 “This integrated approach puts treatment for PTSD and Substance Use Disorders under one roof and should improve mental health outcomes for patients who suffer from both,” said John P. Allen, PhD, VHA’s Associate Chief Consultant for Addictive Disorders. 

Professionals will assess PTSD patients for substance use disorder and provide treatment in coordination with the PTSD intervention. The treatment will include continuing care and case management for patients suffering both problems and will offer preventive education to veterans with PTSD who may be at risk for developing such problems later.  

Allen said substance use disorders cannot cause PTSD, and PTSD does not cause substance use disorders. However, there are advantages to addressing both disorders within the same treatment planning process.  The initiative enhances PTSD services provided to Global War on Terror veterans, as well as veterans of all eras.
 
Adding substance use disorder clinicians to PTSD teams will cost about $13.3 million per year. The enhanced teams should be in place at all VA medical facilities by Oct. 1, 2008.   
 
A second recently announced initiative will provide approximately $17 million per year to establish Intensive Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Programs at 28 additional medical centers, bringing the total number of facilities with these programs to 105.  These units provide a minimum of three hours of treatment services per day at least three times per week to veterans who have substance use disorders that may be too severe to be successfully treated in less intensive ambulatory care settings.

Research has strongly demonstrated the effectiveness of these programs. They also will feature more involvement of family members and significant others than is often possible in less intense ambulatory care programs.

A third initiative will provide specialized training for a minimum of  two physicians in each medical facility to deal with substance use issues such as withdrawal, detoxification and the use of medications in treatment.  

Other steps being taken to bolster substance use disorder services include providing an additional 40 substance use disorder therapists to high volume Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), and assuring that each large mental health residential rehabilitation treatment program has at least one substance use disorder specialist on staff.

“These initiatives represent important efforts by VHA to more effectively address the needs of veterans who suffer substance use disorder problems and do so in manner that is most convenient for them,” said Dr. Kussman.