Typology of Criminal Offending and Treatment Utilization among Veteran Patients Entering Substance Use Disorder Treatment

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Substance use disorder (SUD) and criminal justice involvement are serious concerns among the Veteran population. Patients at a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) SUD treatment program (N=345) were assessed at intake and 6- and 12-months post-intake to (1) develop a criminal history typology; and (2) examine the relationship of criminal history to use of treatment resources and outcomes. Ward’s method cluster analysis was used to characterize criminal histories, yielding three types: Mild (N=262; 78.9%), Moderate (N=45; 13.6%), and Severe (N=25; 7.5%). At baseline, patients with Severe criminal histories reported being charged with more violent (M=5.4, SD=12.5), property (M=10.5, SD=24.3), and drug (M=5.4, SD=6.4) offenses, had the most convictions (M=10.6, SD=11.2), and spent the most time incarcerated (M=10.3 years, SD=3.3) compared to patients of the other two types (p<.001). At 6- and 12-month follow-ups, these patients also attended the fewest mutual-help group meetings and scored highest on drug and psychological Addiction Severity Index measures. Groups did not differ on health care utilization (number of outpatient visits, inpatient lengths of stay) over the follow-up year. Veterans with more extensive criminal histories may benefit from interventions that provide more intensive and longer-term treatment engagement, which may reduce relapse and reoffending.

Authors

• Nicole R. Schultz, Department of Veterans Affairs

• Andrea Finlay, Department of Veterans Affairs

• Dan M. Blonigen, Department of Veterans Affairs

• Christine Timko, Department of Veterans Affairs