{"id":70169,"date":"2023-04-18T18:45:39","date_gmt":"2023-04-18T18:45:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/04\/18\/veterans-can-wait-weeks-to-get-va-help-for-drug-and-alcohol-abuse\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T14:33:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T14:33:37","slug":"veterans-can-wait-weeks-to-get-va-help-for-drug-and-alcohol-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/veterans\/2023\/04\/18\/veterans-can-wait-weeks-to-get-va-help-for-drug-and-alcohol-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Veterans can wait weeks to get VA help for drug, alcohol abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2023\/02\/15\/fentanyl-deaths-among-troops-more-than-doubled-from-2017-to-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\">Substance abuse problems among veterans are on the rise<\/a>, but it can take weeks or months to access care through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2023\/04\/13\/lawmakers-demand-va-fire-substandard-staff-faster\/\" target=\"_blank\">Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a> because of a confusing morass of bureaucratic hoops, according to advocates who testified before Congress on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The difficulties in getting veterans timely care shows that, despite promises of fixes, department leaders are still struggling to streamline a multi-state system serving more than 550,000 veterans dealing with alcohol and drug abuse \u2014 about 8.5% of the total number of patients served by VA health care services. Lawmakers on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2023\/01\/27\/high-turnover-on-house-veterans-affairs-committee-again-this-session\/\" target=\"_blank\">House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee<\/a> said they are hearing increasing complaints from veterans forced to wait for care in the VA system instead of being given options for care at private-sector facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMany veterans are trying to access care, but instead receiving delays,\u201d said Jen Silva, chief program officer at Wounded Warrior Project. \u201cNot finding appropriate care in a timely manner not only fails to capitalize on veterans\u2019 desire to change their life circumstances, but in some cases causes further damage to their mental and physical health.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But department officials denied that the problems are a result of overbearing bureaucratic rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe do not have a policy denying veterans community care access,\u201d said Dr. Tamara Campbell, executive director of VA\u2019s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link smg-interstitial-link--fallback wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2023\/02\/15\/fentanyl-deaths-among-troops-more-than-doubled-from-2017-to-2021\/#:~:text=Thousands%20of%20service%20members%20on,military%20deaths%20during%20that%20period.\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__fallback-link\">Fentanyl deaths among troops more than doubled from 2017 to 2021<\/a><\/aside>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under current guidelines, VA health officials must provide \u201calternative treatment\u201d to veterans seeking substance abuse treatment if they cannot find an inpatient bed within 30 days. That can include VA programs in farther-away cities or states, or private-sector health care options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Officials from the VA Inspector General\u2019s office said application of those rules are applied inconsistently, sometimes resulting in months-long delays. Veterans advocates testified about numerous calls from frustrated individuals who don\u2019t understand what options are available to them, leading to waits of weeks or months for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VA officials said they are working to speed up response times and available beds at department substance abuse centers. Officials have set a goal of hiring 1,100 new specialists to help with treatment programs this fiscal year, and have already brought in more than half of that total.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But lawmakers said they may need to pass legislation mandating more outside care referrals if administrators can\u2019t find ways to streamline the current process. Veterans advocates pushed for dropping the current 30-day requirement to a week or less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur country has been experiencing a substance abuse and overdose epidemic, and our nation\u2019s veterans are not immune,\u201d said Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa and chairwoman of the veterans committee\u2019s panel on health issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne death from substance use disorder is too many, and it is a somber reality that many lives are taken by this treatable mental disorder.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VA officials said that in the last five years, alcohol abuse cases have increased about 5% among patients, amphetamine abuse has increased about 8%, and cannabis abuse has increased about 12%. Opioid abuse cases have remained steady over the same period.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Department policies mandate waits of up to 30 days for VA care before outside options can be 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