Co-occurring substance use and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly prevalent among Veterans returning from Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF), Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and New Dawn (OND). In this paper, the authors developed and obtained feedback from OEF/OIF/OND Veterans about a web-based intervention to treat these co-occurring disorders. Coming Home and Moving Forward had 24 modules and uses cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to assist Veterans with their substance use and PTSD symptoms. Focus groups were held with 18 Veterans to evaluate the acceptability of the program. Participants liked that the web-based program could be used privately, but worried about who could access their information. Participants recommended framing substance use and PTSD as issues of reentry and reintegration, and taking a strength-based approach with the program. After adapting the program, Coming Home and Moving Forward was pilot tested with 34 Veterans who completed knowledge tests and evaluated the acceptability and utility of the program. The majority of modules were rated as acceptable. Modules on cognitive restructuring were ranked lowest. After completing the program, participants demonstrated significantly greater knowledge about PTSD and hazardous substance use.
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