About
About Veterans Affairs Medical Center
The Erie VA Medical Center is a federal Department of Veterans Affairs facility at 135 East 38th Street in Erie, Pennsylvania, serving Veterans across northwestern Pennsylvania, southwestern New York, and northeastern Ohio. The center’s Substance Use Disorder program is part of the VA’s national continuum of veteran-focused recovery services and is delivered alongside the full range of VA medical, mental health, and specialty care available at the campus.
Clinical pathways span the full continuum. Veterans whose use has reached the level of physiological dependence can begin with medical detoxification at the VA, where physicians and nurses manage withdrawal in a hospital environment. Veterans needing longer immersive treatment can step into the VA’s residential rehabilitation program — sometimes called the domiciliary — which typically runs around six weeks but can be shorter or longer based on individual need. Outpatient and intensive outpatient programs serve Veterans who can maintain housing and family responsibilities while receiving regular group and individual therapy.
Clinically, the team draws on evidence-based modalities used across the VA system, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and trauma-focused approaches. Because so many Veterans present with co-occurring PTSD, depression, or chronic pain, substance use care is integrated with mental health, primary care, and specialty consults rather than treated as a standalone problem. ASL access supports Deaf and hard-of-hearing Veterans, and telehealth options via VA Video Connect allow follow-up appointments without travel.
Care at the Erie VAMC is delivered as a VA benefit. Eligible enrolled Veterans pay nothing for service-connected care, and TRICARE may also be billed where applicable. The facility is accredited by the Joint Commission. Veterans seeking substance use treatment can call the SUD intake line at 814-860-2038, and Veterans in immediate crisis can dial 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line.
- Exclusively serves military veterans with specialized understanding of service-related addiction factors
- Joint Commission accreditation ensuring quality medical detox and treatment standards
- Integrated care from medical detox through residential and outpatient treatment levels
- TRICARE coverage accepted for detox and addiction treatment services
- Accommodates veterans who are deaf or hard of hearing with specialized services