The explosion in prescription drug and methamphetamine abuse in recent years has stressed the health care resources of many rural areas. The networks needed to guide rural substance abuse patients through treatment and re-integration in the community were not developed enough to deal with the sudden onslaught of patients. During my summer rotation program at Upstate/Crouse, I encountered an extraordinary number of people hospitalized as a result of the illnesses they had acquired through drug use.
However, I think that Steuben County has done a very good job in this respect. I would like to highlight some of these excellent programs:
For veterans, the Bath VA Medical Center runs a long term inpatient treatment program for those suffering from substance abuse and related chronic health problems. I think this program is particularly impressive that it is able to facilitate stays in treatment for three to six months. Recovery from addiction is a very long term process, and being able to provide a therapeutic environment for that long provides the best possible shot for these troubled veterans. Similarly, the Bath VA also runs a monthly family support group for the family members of veterans suffering from PTSD, substance abuse, and similar issues.
Steuben County also has a rural health network devoted to educational initiatives combatting drug/alcohol abuse, the Steuben Council on Addictions. They also provide substance abuse screening and treatment referral and also have a close relationship with the self-help groups (AA/NA) in the county. There are also several professional treatment providers in the area outside of the VA system.
In my future practice, I hope that I can ensure that patients that have substance abuse issues receive a continuity of care: inpatient/outpatient/group involvement. As Dr. Norman Wetterau made clear in his recent talk to the Upstate Rural Medical Scholars group, recovery is a long term process, and I hope that I can help my patients stay on that journey.
