Outcomes Following Treatment of Veterans for Substance and Tobacco Addiction

Working Together to Combat Tobacco Use

“…In one longitudinal study, patients hospitalized on an acute psychiatric unit who received motivational cessation treatment and nicotine replacement therapy were more likely to quit successfully and less likely to be rehospitalized than were patients in the usual care group (Prochaska, Hall, Delucchi, & Hall, 2014). In a separate study, 14 (14.4%) of 137 veterans who participated in a tobacco cessation group as part of a broader substance abuse treatment program were abstinent at the 1-month follow-up (Vest et al, 2014).…”

Mental Health Among Military Personnel and Veterans

“…For veterans requiring services in more structured settings, Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs are offered [50]. These programs have demonstrated effectiveness for veterans with PTSD [51] and SUDs [52]. Veterans with serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder can access Rehabilitation and Recovery Centers (RRCs) at larger VA facilities.…”

Theater-Based Community Engagement Project for Veterans Recovering From Substance Use Disorders

“…Although it is well known that community engagement can facilitate SUD recovery on many levels (Salyers & Tsemberis, 2007), the literature has suggested that as many as 80% of people recovering from SUDs relapse within the first year (Bart, 2012); moreover, studies of veterans in recovery have illustrated an 85% relapse rate after only 1 mo (Vest et al, 2014). Recent studies have suggested that frequently co-occurring severe mental illnesses (SMIs) often contributed to SUD relapse rates, indicating a need for integrated services that can simultaneously address difficulties faced by clients with a dual diagnosis of SUD and SMI (Perron, Bunger, Bender, Vaughn, & Howard, 2010).…”