Correlates of Specialty Substance Use Disorder Treatment Among Female Patients in the Veterans Health Administration

Abstract

We examined patient- and facility-level correlates of specialty substance use disorder (SUD) outpatient treatment receipt (at least 1 visit) and engagement (visit count) for female Veterans Health Administration patients in 2008 Veterans Health Administration Handbook 1160.01. 2008. Uniform mental health services in VA medical centers and clinics, Washington, DC: Author. [Google Scholar]. Overall, 33% of 15,653 females with SUD received specialty SUD outpatient treatment. Treatment receipt and engagement were positively related to being age 31 to 55, having a psychiatric comorbidity, and receiving treatment at facilities providing women's services. Additional facility-level factors related to treatment receipt were treatment at a facility with comorbid psychiatric services and more licensed psychosocial treatment providers per patient. More prescribers per patient was associated with more treatment engagement.