PTSD, Substance Use, and Veterans' Involvement in the Legal System: Veterans Treatment Courts

The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUD) in the returning veteran population and their subsequent involvement in the legal system have led to the development of diversion programs called Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs). VTCs represent a unique fusion of mental health and drug diversion programs and are intended to steer court-involved veterans with mental health problems (often PTSD) and/or SUD to treatment and/or community service rather than incarceration. By helping veterans address symptoms of PTSD, substance use, or other psychiatric problems with the goal of improving mental health, reducing substance use and resultant recidivism, it is hoped that VTCs can break the destructive cycle of arrest, incarceration, release, and recidivism (Hawkins, 2010). This chapter provides an overview of court diversion programs, discusses the creation of VTCs, identifies special considerations regarding these programs, and provides clinical recommendations and suggestions for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)