REPEAT USERS OF SUBSTANCE-ABUSE SERVICES AT A VA MEDICAL-CENTER

To examine patterns of use of acute walk-in services by substance abus ers the authors studied demographic characteristics and type of substa nce abuse among 1,838 patients treated at a Veterans Affairs substance abuse triage unit. They found that African-American and male substanc e abusers appeared most likely to return for triage services. Among he roin users, the strongest predictor of return was gender, Among alcoho lics, homelessness was the sole predictor of return. No predictors wer e found for cocaine users. The authors conclude that the relationship between return rates and type of substance abuse needs further study.