Mental-health bill focuses on substance abuse

Mental-health bill focuses on substance abuse
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jun 5, 2008 7:34:31 EDT

A veterans’ mental-health bill that includes expanded treatment for substance abuse passed the Senate on Tuesday, setting the stage for negotiations that could lead to more attention being given to the side effects and warning signs of post-combat stress.

“Returning home from battle does not necessarily bring an end to conflict,” said Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman and chief sponsor of the Veterans’ Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008, which passed the Senate on a voice vote.

“Service members return home, but the war often follows them in their hearts and minds. Their invisible wounds are complicated and wide-ranging,” Akaka said.

The bill, S 2162, would require a minimum level of treatment for substance abuse, which Akaka said is important because of the link between psychological trauma and abuse of drugs and alcohol. He acknowledged that the Veterans Affairs Department has been providing substance abuse treatment, but said “there is much more that can be done.”

One of his concerns is capacity. The bill calls for a report from VA on the availability of residential mental-health care — both new and planned — and the staff-to-patient ratio of each facility.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/06/military_mentalhealth_bill_060408w/