NCJ Number
171344
Date Published
1996
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Drug treatment provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was studied with respect to the characteristics of veterans who receive drug treatment, services offered, methods used to monitor program effectiveness, community services for veterans with drug disorders, and the implications of changing current service delivery methods.
Abstract
The research focused on VA medical center inpatient and outpatient units designated specifically for drug treatment. Information was collected through VA reports and fiscal year 1995 treatment files; interviews with VA officials, other public officials, and national experts; case studies of non-VA treatment programs; and a literature review. Results revealed that the 389 VA drug treatment units at more than 160 medical centers served about 180,000 veterans in fiscal year 1995. The units use a variety of treatment approaches. VA currently lacks the necessary data to measure and evaluate treatment effectiveness. Veterans also use many non-VA drug treatment programs. Changing the delivery of VA drug treatment services may have significant implications, but crucial information is not available for determining these implications. VA's current reorganization is unprecedented; VA officials have not yet decided how to deliver drug treatment and what outcome measures will be used. After these decisions are made, VA treatment outcomes can be compared with the outcomes of other drug treatment programs, and the feasibility and cost of contracting these services out can be better assessed. Figures, table, and map