Characteristics of Veterans in Community-Based Treatment Programs for Substance use Disorders: An Analysis of Data from a State-Wide System

Abstract

This study examined records of patients in New York State treatment programs for substance use disorders from 1995 to 2012, which consisted of 81,471 patients with a self-reported veteran status and 1,260,618 without. Results indicated that, compared to other patients in community-based treatment, veterans have distinctive demographic characteristics, primary substance use, and treatment participation. Implications of the findings were discussed. The authors call for more in-depth research to examine veterans' pathways into community-based treatment, their perception of and experience with treatment services, and the likely influence of cultural background and the role of specific military experiences on their treatment outcomes.