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GAO-10-294R 1 (2010-03-10)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaanrl0001 and id is 1 raw text is: ~G A 0 Acountabi ty I Integrity * Reliability United States Government Accountability Office Washington, DC 20548 March 10, 2010 The Honorable Michael H. Michaud Chairman Subcommittee on Health Committee on Veterans' Affairs House of Representatives The Honorable Brian Baird House of Representatives Subject: VA Faces Challenges in Providing Substance Use Disorder Services and Is Taking Steps to Improve These Services for Veterans Substance use disorders (SUD), such as alcohol abuse and drug addiction, are serious health conditions that affect many Americans, including a substantial number of veterans. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), about 420,000 of the over 5 million veterans receiving health care from VA had SUD diagnoses in fiscal year 2009.1 Both older veterans and veterans of the current military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are at risk for SUDs, as veterans may use drugs or alcohol to help cope with the effects of stressful events experienced during deployment or with difficulties they encounter in readjusting from wartime military service to civilian life. The identification and treatment of veterans with SUDs is important, as SUDs can have harmful effects on veterans' physical, psychological, and social well-being if left untreated. For example, substance use has been shown to be a primary risk factor for both homelessness and suicide among veterans. It is also important to identify and counsel veterans who may not meet the diagnostic criteria for an SUD-that is, they may not abuse or be dependent on alcohol or drugs-but use substances to a degree that puts them at risk for developing an SUD or other health problems. VA provides SUD services in a range of settings, including inpatient SUD programs that provide acute in-hospital care, which may include detoxification services; residential rehabilitation treatment programs, which provide intensive treatment and rehabilitation services with supported housing; intensive outpatient programs, which provide at least 3 hours of treatment services 3 days per week; and standard outpatient programs, which provide less-intensive outpatient services. VA also provides SUD-related care in non-SUD settings, including primary care clinics and non-SUD residential rehabilitation treatment programs. 'The number of veterans with SUD diagnoses does not reflect veterans who are only dependent on nicotine or who only get care in VA's Vet Centers, which offer readjustment counseling and other services for combat veterans. GAO-10-294R VA Substance Use Disorder Services

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