Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Claire Robb

Abstract

Homeless veterans with substance use disorders are among the most vulnerable and inaccessible populations in Virginia, which is evident by the lack of state and local resources. This cross-sectional study was conducted to present a retrospective assessment of the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) to develop an understanding of the impact of housing arrangements on admission to long-term drug treatment centers among veterans in Virginia. To guide the study, the socioecological model was selected as the theoretical framework to better examine and understand the relationship between housing/living arrangement and admission to drug treatment centers among Virginia veterans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between admission to long-term drug treatment centers and the outcome of treatment or reason for transfer or discontinuance of treatment. A robust sample of 1,412 homeless veterans in Virginia were examined for this study. Chi-square and binary logistic regression analysis were conducted. Those in independent living were found to have the highest rates admission to long-term-drug/residential treatment centers. The sample of veterans in independent living arrangements at admission also had the highest frequencies of opioid dependence, alcohol dependence, and cocaine dependence, reported longer stays in treatment, and noted more frequent self-help group attendance in comparison to the three groupings of living arrangements. The positive social change implication of this study is that it highlighted the need for wraparound programs that would reduce the barriers for homeless veterans to meaningfully engage in substance use treatment.

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