335572
Unmet Need for Treatment of Substance Use Disorders and Serious Psychological Distress among Veterans Using the NSDUH 2004-2013
Objective: The objective of the study is to examine prevalence of unmet need for treatment of substance use disorders among veterans aged 21 to 34 in the general population.
Data and methods: This study uses data from 10 years (2004-2013) of National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Analyses examine veterans’ and a comparison group of nonveterans’ experiences. Main Outcome Measures SUD is assessed according to DSM-IV criteria. SPD is assessed with the K6 Screener. Several weighted logistic regression models were estimated for examining the relationship between veterans and nonveterans in terms of their unmet need for mental health treatment.
Results and conclusion: Similar rates of untreated SUD and SPD were found among a nonveteran comparison sample matched on gender and age. These findings suggest that reducing unmet need for MH treatment for veterans in the general population may require improving outreach to all Americans and creating greater acceptance for MH treatment. The prevalence of untreated SUD among veterans (15%) was almost twice as high as untreated SPD (8%). Surprisingly, similar rates of untreated SUD (16%) and SPD (8%) were found among a nonveteran comparison sample matched on gender and age. Overall, veterans were more likely to have received treatment for SPD than were nonveterans, but not for SUD. Treatment rates for SUD were lower for participants that were non-white, younger, more educated, employed, married, and had higher income. Treatment rates for SPD were lower for participants that were male, non-white, younger, less educated, employed full time, and had low income.
Learning Areas:
Biostatistics, economicsDiversity and culture
Public health biology
Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate Unmet Need for Treatment of Substance Use Disorders and Serious Psychological Distress among Veterans Using the NSDUH 2004-2013. To identified gaps in public health practitioners’ competency in the area of developing and implementing policies that demonstrate a collaborative approach to improving the health of all people.
Keyword(s): Depression, Veterans' Health
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a statistician, a faculty, public health practitioners and a social scientist and have been analyzing social and behavioral science data and presenting at the APHA for last fifteen years. I have been teaching Biostatistics in public health for last 15 years at Morgan State University's School of Community Health and Policy.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.