Benjamin Garland, a DSW graduate from the UTCSW class of 2021, recently published a paper based on his DSW research in the Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions for work in combatting alcohol use disorders. His paper titled “Effects of a same-day post-detoxification residential alcohol use disorder treatment admission policy,” examined pre- and post-implementation of a same-day post-detoxification residential admission policy within a Veteran Health Administration (VHA) facility to determine improved outcomes consistent with the larger literature.
Alcohol use disorders are highly prevalent, comorbid, and disabling conditions that are often untreated, according to Garland. Many detoxification discharges for substance use disorders are not followed by transfer to treatment. The role of proactive, supportive discharge, and aftercare planning are prominently tied to improved clinical outcomes.
Garland, who works with veterans at the medical center, became interested in the transition from inpatient to residential care as an intern in the inpatient psychiatry unit at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center (JHQVAMC). After a stint in the U.S. Air Force from 2012-2015 as a social worker, he returned to work at JHQVAMC. He launched the study in 2020, during his doctoral study in social work at UTCSW, to evaluate the same-day admission policy change that began in 2019.
The full author listing, study, and published materials in the Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions are available at: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1533256X.2021.1996839.