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Substance Disorders Treatment Program (SDTP) is an outpatient program which helps Veterans overcome addictions to drugs and/or alcohol.

SDTP is an outpatient program which helps Veterans overcome addictions to drugs and/or alcohol. 

Depending on need, Veterans in SDTP may also receive additional services from the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program, Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary program (BHIP,

formerly known as GMHC or the General Mental Health Clinic , Vocational Rehabilitation, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Team, Whole Health or others.

The Mental Health Care Line strives to help Veterans maximize their chances for long-term success and offers treatments that work (also called “evidence-based treatments”) to help Veterans

achieve their goals. 

While most Veterans participate in SDTP for 6 months or less, individuals who maintain specific recovery-oriented activities for a minimum of one year experience the best outcomes. We

encourage Veterans to develop ongoing community based and/or whole health support to meet their particular needs and life situation now and for the future.

Veterans within SDTP developed a treatment philosophy to alert fellow Veterans that recovery involves much more than simply changing use of drugs and/or alcohol.  

“We fought for America with all of our heart, we’ll fight for ourselves to make a new start. We take responsibility for our actions and do not expect others to carry our load. 

To do the things we’ve never done, we’ll have to be someone we’ve never been. We each represent ourselves and gain hope and strength by working together. 

We stand in agreement to be set free, to become the people we were meant to be. We recognize the choices we make dictate the lives we live. 

While we hope other veterans will find these words helpful, we recognize that veterans may have different ideas. We encourage everyone to develop their own philosophy and modify it as they

grow. 

The treatments we offer have helped many Veterans improve their lives. Change requires new ways of thinking, behaving, and relating to others and may feel awkward and overwhelming at times.

SDTP offers the following specific treatments either directly or through referral:

This treatment involves learning and clarifying how one’s personal experiences with alcohol and drug use compares to others, risk factors for (and consequences of) substance use disorders,

reasons and desires for change, confidence, values, and how to change. This treatment generally lasts about four sessions.

This treatment helps patients identify and challenge thoughts which serve as triggers to substance use disorder. This treatment requires keeping track of thoughts, feelings and behavior

outside of sessions and reviewing these homework sheets with a therapist through-out. The treatment lasts about 12-16 sessions.

This treatment provides increasing financial rewards (e.g., Veterans Canteen Service coupons) for abstinence based on negative laboratory tests which occur twice a week, 3-4 days apart on a

consistent basis for 12 weeks.

Medications for Alcohol Use and Tobacco Use Disorders are available throughout the MEDVAMC. Ask any prescribing provider in the MEDVAMC or SDTP.  Medications for Opioid Use Disorder are

primarily available through a dedicated subgroup of BHIP  psychiatrists (ask any Mental Health provider for a referral).

This treatment explains the concepts and practices of the 12 step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. SDTP offers components of Twelve Step Facilitation in different groups and one-on-one

sessions.

Other approaches outside of SDTP outpatient care include self-help, spiritual, and/or short-stay inpatient and longer-stay residential programs. Individuals may choose to seek a combination

of these treatments (which we often recommend) or no treatment. While treatment has been found to be superior to no treatment, many individuals with problematic use of alcohol and/or drugs

have succeeded without professional help. 

Each Veteran in SDTP is assigned an SDTP Treatment Coordinator and a team. Treatment Coordinators may be a Psychologist, Social Worker, or Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor. This

person coordinates a Veteran’s care within SDTP and is the person Veterans should first communicate with about all of their questions, treatment needs, and appointments. Together with their

Coordinator, Veterans will develop a plan for treatment including their overall goals, objectives to meet those goals, and methods to help achieve both.

Veterans and their Coordinator discuss how often and under what circumstances the two of them will meet individually (in person, by telephone or over video-teleconferencing). During active

treatment, all Veterans meet with their Coordinator at least monthly, when their treatment groups change or end, as needed  , and as they transition their recovery efforts into the

community. 

Coordinators will also have Veterans complete a questionnaire (verbally or on your own device)  called the “Brief Addictions Monitor-Revised” (BAM-R) covering the last 30 days at the

beginning of treatment, monthly, when levels of care change, and at the end of treatment.

The results of this questionnaire will give Veterans an idea of their progress and opportunities for improvement. Veterans and their Coordinator decide when a Veteran is ready to transition

from active treatment and are ready to receive a “commendation” for participation in treatment. 

The Coordinator will discharge the Veteran from SDTP when they finish a course of treatment, if the Veteran stops attending appointments or does not follow up. Specifically, for standard

outpatient services, if a Veteran “no shows” for two appointments or two full days of group appointments back-to-back without any notice or follow up, future individual and group

appointments may be cancelled and the Veteran will likely be discharged.

Also, if a Veteran no shows to the individual appointments, their future group appointments may be cancelled. It is not sufficient to attend groups only. If the Veteran wishes to appeal

their discharge due to extenuating circumstances, he/she/they should reach out directly to their Coordinator. 

After discharge, Veterans may initiate return to SDTP by asking any MEDVAMC provider to submit a consult.

SDTP offers a variety of group-based treatment options. Participation in these groups is recommended for individuals who could benefit from more intensive and/or frequent treatment and/or

the comradery of other Veterans.  Most groups will have a written curriculum or workbook.

If groups are online, Veterans will receive links for those groups on the day of the appointment. These links will come to the Veteran’s listed phone and email address from

“[email protected]” (as with any individual video appointments). If these platforms are challenging for a Veteran related to equipment or there is a need or preference for in person

visits, Veterans should develop a plan with their Coordinator.

There is also help available for technical issues through the Help Desk at . The video links should not be shared with individuals other than the Veteran with the appointment. These sessions

are not for family or friends unless specifically arranged in advance.

The initial phase of treatment for many Veterans is known as “Intensive Outpatient Program” or “IOP” and involves attending three hours of group per day for three days per week, weekly

individual sessions and contingency management sessions as explained above (if appropriate) . Before starting IOP, Veterans attend an orientation session to learn about the Program and

decide if it is a good fit. If enrolled, Veterans are assigned a temporary IOP Coordinator who takes over the duties of the standard outpatient SDTP Coordinator during the time the Veterans

are in the IOP. IOP participation can range from 10 hours to 12 hours total per week.

Veterans are encouraged to have their workbook and a writing implement with them for each group. Laboratory testing for alcohol and drugs of misuse is available and strongly recommended

during IOP. Given the level of intensity in IOP, the “no show” policy is stricter and is reviewed at the IOP Orientation. 

Veterans are expected to complete a Brief Addictions Monitor – IOP weekly during their participation in the IOP. Towards the end of a Veteran’s stay in IOP, their IOP Coordinator may help

them plan what is next to avoid any break in group support or may defer this to the Veteran and the standard outpatient SDTP Coordinator to plan. Follow up after IOP may include individual

therapy, engagement in other outpatient group(s), referral to other mental health clinics, and/or other interventions to help Veterans achieve their goals.

For Veterans who need or desire less intensive care from the outset or are ready to reduce the frequency and intensity of treatment or support, there are more than a dozen options including:

This group meets in-person at the MEDVAMC once or twice a week for an hour and a half each for 4 to 8 weeks and uses a workbook by the same name.

This group has multiple offerings in terms of days and times and length of commitment, though all of them meet once week and use the “Matrix Model” which was developed by the Substance Abuse

& Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA).

This is a 2-group per week package offered back-to-back on Tuesday nights from 6 – 8 pm and uses a workbook with the same name. The material is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

(described above). Veterans will develop coping skills to manage urges/cravings, learn how to respond to unhelpful thoughts and uncomfortable emotions, and develop new healthy behaviors.

This therapy is designed to be completed in 10 weeks.

This is a once weekly, 50 minute group led by Peer Support Specialists that helps individuals understand what recovery is really all about and demystifies the 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, and

sponsorship. Individuals who attend at least 30 Twelve Step meetings in their first year of recovery double their chances for long-term success.

We also provide many population- and topic-specific groups (e.g., Sober Seniors, Women, Spirituality, and Harm Reduction). We are also happy to make referrals to “Seeking Safety” for trauma

and addictions as well as group-based Grief and Smoking Cessation programs. Veterans are encouraged to discuss their particular concerns with their treatment Coordinator and develop a custom

plan to address them.  

We strive to create a treatment experience that maximizes chances for creating and sustaining a successful recovery. Toward that end, we have learned that following these quality and comfort

statements in video-telehealth groups produce better results:

Veterans are strongly encouraged to consider utilizing self-help and community support to enhance treatment engagement for at least one year. Information about local self-help options are

available by phone or online: