Characteristics of Women Seeking Intensive Outpatient Substance Use Treatment in the VA

Abstract

To investigate gender differences among veterans receiving intensive outpatient (IOP) substance use treatment in a national VA sample and to compare women attending IOP with women with substance use disorders in VA primary care. VA national databases were used to identify all veterans receiving intensive IOP substance use treatment in 1999 along with a matched cohort of individuals with substance use disorders attending primary care but not in treatment. Few women (2.8%) were treated in IOP at the VA. Among the women who did receive treatment, substantial clinical differences were found compared with men in IOP treatment. Women with substance use disorders were younger, more likely to have cocaine abuse or dependence disorders, and more likely to have extensive psychiatric and medical comorbidities than men with substance use disorders in the VA. Women in treatment were also found to be significantly different from women with substance use disorders not in treatment. Outreach and new programming for women veterans with substance use disorders in the VA is critical in order to treat these issues early and potentially prevent multiple, severe comorbid illnesses.