Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley, Chairwoman of the Women Veterans Task Force, introduced the Women Veterans Therapeutic Transitional Residence in Urban Settings Act, also known as the TRUST Act, which would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to analyze the need for long-term, residential, women-specific drug and alcohol dependency treatment and rehabilitation programs, as well as carry out a related pilot program.

“It is a tragic reality that women veterans often face a unique set of challenges resulting from a combination of traumatic experiences occurring prior to, during, and after their military service that can lead to substance abuse. We need to do more to ensure that women veterans receive the critical and effective care they need,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “That is why I introduced this bill, which will ensure that women veterans who are suffering from alcohol and drug dependency have access to women-specific drug and alcohol dependency treatment and rehabilitation programs, which they deserve.”

Background

The Women Veterans Therapeutic Transitional Residence in Urban Settings Act would require VA to conduct an analysis of its current programs and the need for more women-specific residential drug and alcohol dependency treatment and rehabilitation programs across the country. It would further require that VA implement a pilot program in which at least three Veteran Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) would carry out a women-specific pilot program to treat and rehabilitate women veterans with alcohol and drug dependency.

Congresswoman Brownley recently visited the Jamaica Plain VA Medical Center in Boston, MA, where she met with women veterans who are participating in a VA-run residential treatment program in which women veterans are able to work, attend therapy, and live at a home in the community.

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