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Medication Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders in the Veterans Health Administration

This study examines the utilization of FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in the Veterans Health Administration (VA). The goal is to determine the extent of medication use, patient characteristics associated with receipt of these medications, and provide a benchmark for increased utilization efforts.

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Medication Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders in the Veterans Health Administration

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  1. Medication Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders in the Veterans Health Administration Alex Harris, Dan Kivlahan, Thomas Bowe, Keith Humphreys QUERI Annual Meeting Phoenix AZ. Dec 10-12 2008

  2. This study was funded in part by the VA Office of Research and Development, Health Services Research and Development Service (MRP-05-168-1), the VA Program Evaluation and Resource Center. The views expressed herein are the authors’ not those of the Department of Veteran Affairs.

  3. The FDA has approved four pharmacological treatments for alcohol use disorders (AUD): • Acamprosate (Campral) • Naltrexone (Oral) • Naltrexone IM (Vivitrol) • Disulfiram (Antabuse)

  4. Goals • Determine the extent to which these medications are utilized to treat the quarter million patients with AUDs in VA • Examine the patient characteristics and setting characteristics associated with receipt of these medications.

  5. Methods • Using VHA pharmacy (DSS) and administrative data, we identified patients with AUD diagnoses (303.xx or 305.xx) in FY06 and FY07 and determined what proportion had filled a prescription for each and any of the four medications • Does not include patients without AUD diagnoses receiving the drugs

  6. Conclusion • About 3% of VA patients with AUDs were treated with medications in FY06 and FY07. • These data suggest and opportunity for implementation efforts and provide a useful benchmark to track increased use of these medications.

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