US military veterans showed patterns of cannabis use following residential substance use disorder treatment, with treatment factors predicting post-treatment cannabis outcomes.
VA treatment providers, residential SUD program administrators, and veteran health researchers.
Treatment predictorsSpecific treatment factors predicted cannabis use outcomes after residential SUD treatment in veterans
What the researchers found
Veterans cannabis use patterns after residential SUD treatment were predicted by specific treatment factors, suggesting opportunities to improve post-treatment cannabis outcomes through targeted intervention during residential stays.
Why it matters
Cannabis use during and after addiction treatment is increasingly common among veterans, and understanding predictors of post-treatment use can inform treatment planning in VA residential programs.
The numbers in context
The study examined descriptive patterns of cannabis use and treatment predictors of outcomes among US military veterans following residential SUD treatment.
How the study worked
Retrospective cohort study examining cannabis use patterns and treatment predictors following residential SUD treatment in US veterans.
Who was studied
US military veterans who completed residential substance use disorder treatment.
What this study cannot tell us
Retrospective design; VA treatment population may not represent all veterans; cannabis use was secondary to primary SUD treatment in many cases.
How to read the evidence
Retrospective cohort study; provides predictive evidence but cannot establish causal treatment effects.
When this study was published
Recent study reflecting current veteran SUD treatment landscape.
The bigger picture
As cannabis increasingly co-occurs with other substance use disorders, treatment programs need to address cannabis use as part of comprehensive SUD care rather than treating it as secondary.
Replication
Adds to veteran SUD treatment literature; cannabis as a treatment variable is increasingly studied.
Funding
Not specified
Conflicts of interest
Not specified
Questions still open
- Should residential SUD programs specifically target cannabis use?
- Does cannabis use predict other substance relapse?
- How do veteran-specific factors influence post-treatment cannabis use?
Read the original research
Cannabis Use Among U.S. Military Veterans Following Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment.
Military medicine, 188(11-12), e3591-e3598
Citation
Mian, Maha N; Chan Osilla, Karen; Blonigen, Daniel. (2023). Cannabis Use Among U.S. Military Veterans Following Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment.. Military medicine, 188(11-12), e3591-e3598. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usad216