Availability of Trauma-Specific Services in US Substance Use Disorder and Other Mental Health Treatment Facilities: 2015–2019

This study assessed trends in provision of trauma-specific services, defined as dedicated programming for persons with a history of trauma, in US Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and other Mental Health (MH) facilities. Facility level data from the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services and the National Mental Health Services Survey (2015–2019) were used to examine trends in provision of trauma specific-services. Trauma specific service provision trended up significantly between 2015 and 2019. In 2019, they were more commonly offered at MH facilities (49.9%) than SUD facilities (42.7%). Licensing by state SUD authorities were associated with provision of trauma-specific services at both MH (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.23, 95% Confidence interval (CI) = 1.18–1.47, p <.001) and SUD (AOR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.04–1.37, p =.012) facilities. The proportions of facilities that offer trauma-specific services were correlated within states (Pearson’s r =.44, p =.001). State policies to implement trauma screening at public facilities were associated with higher odds of offering trauma-specific services in MH (AOR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.04–1.64, p =.021) and SUD (AOR 1.51, 95% CI = 1.19–1.12, p =.001) facilities; whereas, state implementation of trauma-specific CBT at public facilities was associated with higher odds of this outcome only in MH facilities (AOR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.01–1.51, p =.043). Although trauma-specific services trended up significantly, fewer than half of treatment facilities offer such services nationally. Certain facility characteristics, such SUD authority certification, are associated with trauma-specific services. Variability among states in these services is linked to state policy. Increased efforts by states may be an effective point of intervention to further disseminate trauma-specific services.