Research Topics
Substance Use Disorders
A substance use disorder (SUD) is a condition in which an individual is impacted by the inability to control their intake of a substance such as legal (i.e., alcohol) or illegal drugs (i.e., heroin) or medications (i.e., prescription painkillers). Symptoms can range from mild dependence to severe addiction. Even those with mild SUD may experience a range of physical and psychological effects. Further, the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Mental Health estimate that half of individuals who experience a substance use disorder during their lives will also experience a co-occurring mental disorder and vice versa.
VA health systems research addresses many aspects of substance use disorders including addiction, SUD treatment services, prescription management, and alternative pain management.
Each section below is populated by a search of the HSR website. Search results are generated based on the search term "Substance Use Disorders". Results are updated as new data are available.
VIEW: Citations | Publication Briefs | Studies | HSR Briefs, Reports, Newsletters | Cyberseminars | Videos | Podcasts | Other Resources
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Citations
(5 of more than 298 SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS focused publications)
- Bernstein EY, Fu CX, Ayanian JZ, Curto VE, Anderson TS, Landon BE. Association of Medicare Advantage vs Traditional Medicare with Clinical Outcomes Among Patients Hospitalized for Substance Use Disorders. Journal of general internal medicine. 2025 Feb 10 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-025-09413-w.
- Bertucci S, Schultz E, Stevenson B, Fu SS. An Opt-out Tobacco Treatment Group Intervention Within an Intensive Substance Use Disorders Treatment Program: Initial Outcomes in the Veterans Health Administration. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. 2024 Dec 23; 27(1):12-17.
- Incze MA, Huebler S, Szczotka K, Grant S, Kertesz SG, Gordon AJ. Expert Panel Consensus on the Effectiveness and Implementation of Models to Support Posthospitalization Care Transitions for People With Substance Use Disorders. Journal of addiction medicine. 2024 Nov 1; 18(6):696-704.
- Soyer EM, McGinnis KA, Justice AC, Hsieh E, Rodriguez-Barradas MC, Williams EC, Park LS. COVID-19 Breakthrough Infection after Vaccination and Substance Use Disorders: A Longitudinal Cohort of People with and without HIV Receiving Care in the United States Veterans Health Administration. AIDS and behavior. 2024 Jul 24.
- van Draanen J, Peng J, Ye T, Williams EC, Hill HD, Rowhani-Rahbar A. No change in substance use disorders or overdose after implementation of state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2024 Jul 1; 260:111344.
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Publication Briefs
(5 of more than 32 SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS focused publication briefs)
- Documented Clinical Diagnoses Underestimate Prevalence of Substance Use Disorders in Younger, Hispanic, and Women Veterans
This study compared clinical diagnosis rates of alcohol use disorder (AUD), drug use disorder (DUD), and total SUD (AUD and/or DUD) to survey-based prevalence among a random sample of VA patients from 30 VA healthcare facilities. Findings showed that the survey-based prevalence of AUD, DUD, and SUD was generally higher than clinical diagnosis rates among all Veterans: 10% vs 6% for AUD, 4.7% vs 4....
Date: June 30, 2022
- JGIM Supplement Features VA Research on Improving Opioid Safety among Veterans with Chronic Pain and Addiction
In the fall of 2019, HSR&D convened a state-of-the-art (SOTA) conference – “Effective Management of Pain and Addiction: Strategies to Improve Opioid Safety” – to develop research priorities for advancing the science and clinical practice of opioid safety, including both the use of opioid analgesics and managing opioid use disorder (OUD). A group of researchers and VA clinical stakeholders defined ...
Date: December 1, 2020
- Racial and Ethnic Differences in Primary Care Experiences for Veterans with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
This study examined racial and ethnic differences in positive and negative experiences in VA Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) settings among Veterans with mental health or substance use disorders (MHSUDs) who completed VA’s 2013 PCMH Survey of Healthcare Experiences of Patients. Findings showed that positive experiences were reported least often for access. Negative experiences were reported m...
Date: June 20, 2016
- Military Sexual Trauma is Independent Risk Factor for Homelessness among Veterans, Particularly Male Veterans
This study examined the relationship between military sexual trauma (MST) and post-deployment homelessness among a large cohort of OEF/OIF Veterans, including whether the relationship varied by sex, and whether MST was a predictor of homelessness independent of other risk factors (i.e., mental health and/or substance use disorders). Findings showed that a positive MST screen was independently rela...
Date: June 1, 2016
- Veterans Exiting Prison Have Extensive Treatment Needs, Particularly for Mental Health and Substance Use Issues
This study determined incarcerated Veterans’ contact with VA healthcare in the year after a Health Care for Reentry Veterans (HCRV) visit (prior to release from prison), the prevalence of mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) diagnoses, and rates of mental health or SUD treatment entry and engagement in the first month after diagnosis. Findings showed that of the Veterans with an HCRV out...
Date: December 21, 2015
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Studies
( 5 of more than 2 SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS focused projects
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| Project No. |
Title |
PI |
Funding Start |
| IIR 21-005
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Web-Based Provider Training for Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders using Prolonged Exposure (COPEWeb) |
Back, Sudie |
2023-10-01 |
| IIR 19-048
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Post-Hospital Intervention for Veterans with Comorbid Bipolar and Substance Use Disorders |
Metrik, Jane |
2020-03-01 |
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IIR 21-005
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Web-Based Provider Training for Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders using Prolonged Exposure (COPEWeb) |
Back, Sudie |
2023-10-01 |
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IIR 19-048
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Post-Hospital Intervention for Veterans with Comorbid Bipolar and Substance Use Disorders |
Metrik, Jane |
2020-03-01 |
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HSR Briefs, Reports, Newsletters
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Cyberseminars
The most recent "Substance Use Disorders" seminars are displayed.
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| Date |
Title |
Presenter(s) |
| 8/26/2025 |
Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders among Women Veterans: Current State of the Research Landscape
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Simpson, Tracy
Hoggatt, Katherine
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| 9/26/2023 |
Substance Use Disorders, Risky Substance Use and Brain Injury
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Corrigan, John
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| 2/2/2022 |
Virtual Care Early-Career Investigator Series
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Lin, Lewei (Allison)
Wray, Charlie
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| 12/8/2020 |
Opioids, Addiction, and Pain: State of the Art in VA
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Humphreys, Keith
Chang, Evelyn
Becker, William
Veazie, Stephanie
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| 11/19/2020 |
A Feasibility Study of Mindful Self-Compassion for Veterans with Moral Injury and Co-Occurring PTSD and Substance Use Disorders
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Eaton, Erica
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Podcasts
There are currently no podcasts for this topic. |
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