Navy Closes Premier East Coast Substance Abuse Program Due to Rat Infestation and Inability to Hire Competant Staff

Background of the Program

The Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program (SARP) was a highly regarded addiction treatment facility located in Portsmouth, Virginia. Operating within the Naval Medical Center, it was specifically designed to help active-duty service members from all branches overcome substance abuse challenges while balancing the demands of their military duties. Unfortunately, as of November 19, 2024, the Navy has closed this crucial program due to persistent staffing shortages and aging infrastructure.

SARP provided multiple levels of care tailored to the severity of a service member’s addiction. For those at the beginning stages, Level 0.5, known as “Prime for Life,” offered a short educational course focused on prevention. Level 1 provided a brief outpatient program for individuals with mild alcohol addiction. For more intensive cases, Levels 2.1 and 2.5 delivered comprehensive outpatient care. The program also included Level 3, a five-week residential treatment plan aimed at addressing moderate to severe addictions.

In addition to its structured treatment levels, SARP offered a range of services to support recovery. These included individual and group therapy sessions, 12-step meetings, aftercare support, and 24-hour clinical care. The program was uniquely tailored to meet the needs of active-duty military personnel, ensuring that treatment could align with their service obligations.

Despite its closure, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth continues to provide other mental health services. These include outpatient adult and child behavioral health care as well as inpatient mental health treatment. However, the loss of SARP leaves a significant gap in comprehensive addiction treatment for service members, raising concerns about how the Navy will address substance abuse issues moving forward.

Challenges Leading to Closure

Over recent years, the program has faced escalating challenges, primarily due to staffing shortages. The aging infrastructure of the facility further compounded these issues, making it increasingly difficult to retain qualified personnel and maintain the quality of care. Despite efforts to recruit and retain staff, the program struggled to operate at full capacity, leading to its eventual closure.

Two years ago, the Navy had to transfer residents out of the space due to serious maintenance problems and a rodent infestation.

Implications for Navy Personnel

The shutdown of this key program has significant implications for service members dealing with substance abuse, as it was considered the top program of its kind on the East Coast. Without access to specialized in-house treatment, affected personnel will need to seek assistance from external providers or other military facilities, potentially leading to delays in receiving care. This gap in services could adversely affect the readiness and well-being of active duty troops, as timely intervention is crucial in addressing substance abuse issues.

To put it in simple terms, our military men and women are going to suffer because the government cannot properly staff an adequate structure to provide care to active duty service members with substance abuse issues. This is not acceptable and probably has something to do with the 2.7 (out of 5) stars the facility receives from Google Ratings.

Broader Context of Substance Abuse in the Military

Substance abuse remains a critical concern within the military community. According to Military.com, prescription drug misuse and abuse is the nation’s fastest-growing drug problem, with approximately 4.5 million Americans using prescription pain relievers for nonmedical reasons in a typical month.

The military is not immune to this trend, and the closure of dedicated programs like the one at Portsmouth may hinder efforts to combat this issue effectively.

Navy’s Response and Future Plans

Following the closure of its residential Level 3 services, patients from the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program (SARP) are being referred to other Defense Department facilities or the Tricare network for treatment. This decision underscores the Navy’s commitment to maintaining safe staff-to-patient ratios, which are critical for providing effective care. By suspending the most resource-intensive services, the Navy aims to preserve the program’s remaining outpatient options while meeting graduate medical education requirements.

Although the Level 3 residential treatment program is currently suspended, SARP continues to operate its outpatient services, including intensive outpatient care. The facility also remains a vital provider of mental health services for active-duty personnel, ensuring that support for those in need is still available. These measures are designed to balance the program’s ongoing operations with the limited staffing resources currently available.

The Navy is actively working with the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to restore the staffing levels required to resume full operations, including the Level 3 residential program. Recruiting efforts are underway to fill 33 full-time positions essential for comprehensive care. At the same time, discussions are ongoing to address both short- and long-term solutions for the program’s challenges, including staffing shortages and aging facility conditions. While previous plans for renovations and possible relocation of the program were abandoned due to concerns about accreditation and patient care standards, the Navy remains focused on finding sustainable solutions.

The immediate future of the SARP at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth remains uncertain, but efforts are in motion to restore its full capabilities and improve the conditions necessary for effective substance abuse treatment within the military health system.

Impact on Military Health System Reform

The closure also intersects with broader reforms within the Military Health System (MHS). As part of ongoing efforts to streamline and improve healthcare delivery, the Department of Defense has been shifting management of military hospitals and clinics to the Defense Health Agency (DHA). This transition aims to focus the Army, Navy, and Air Force’s medical commands on providing health care to operational forces.

The shutdown of the Portsmouth program may reflect these systemic changes and the challenges inherent in restructuring military healthcare services.

Summation

The closure of the Navy’s premier East Coast substance abuse program is unfortunate and preventable.  While driven by staffing shortages and infrastructural challenges, this decision underscores the need for adaptive strategies to ensure that sailors receive the support and treatment necessary to maintain readiness and overall well-being. As the Navy navigates these changes, the effectiveness of alternative solutions and the broader impact on military health services will be closely monitored by stakeholders and service members alike.

In short, our servicemembers deserve better. They should not have to settle for a lesser solution when plan “A” fails to work due to rat infestations and their inability to find capable staff.