Use of Veterans Affairs Health Care Services by Veterans Receiving Addiction Treatment in Washington State

The authors describe characteristics of treatment use among veterans who had addiction treatment in non-Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities in Washington state and who used health care services, including addiction treatment, in VA facilities. From 1996 through 2000, 2,649 VA patients received addiction treatment in Washington state facilities, with 56% ( n = 1,489) also receiving some VA specialty addiction treatment and the remaining 44% ( n = 1,160) receiving VA health care services unrelated to addiction treatment. Among all veterans receiving addiction treatment in VA facilities in Washington state ( n = 11,663), 11 % also had treatment in non-VA centers. Over the more than 4-year period, female veterans seen in both systems were less likely to receive VA specialty addiction treatment than were male veterans (40% vs. 58%). This article shows that a significant number of veterans received addiction treatment in both VA and non-VA facilities in Washington state.