Factors associated with VA versus non-VA substance use treatment among women veterans

There are more women enlisting in the military and, as a result, the Veterans Administration (VA) is experiencing an increase in women veteran's utilization of healthcare services. This study examined the factors that facilitate and/or impede women veterans with a substance use disorder seeking VA substance use treatment. The current study examined predisposing, enabling, and need factors related to utilization of VA substance use treatment. An intact dataset of 1004 participants were utilized in addition to a subset of 143 women veterans with a substance use disorder who sought substance use treatment. Predisposing factors significantly differentiated women veterans with and with a substance use disorder. A significant difference was not found between severity of substance use diagnosis and health insurance status. Marital status and socio-economic status were the only predictor variables that significantly predicted women veterans with a substance use disorder and utilization of VA substance use treatment. The results provide mixed support related to previous research. Future directions for research are discussed.