“…We included covariates previously associated with receipt of alcohol-related care among veterans with unhealthy alcohol use or associated with increased LTOT-related harms. 17,18,20,21 Demographic variables included age by quartiles, sex (female, male, other) race and ethnicity (Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, and other), copay status (VA disability compensation rating), marital status (married, not married, and unknown), rurality of zip code of VA service station (urban or rural), and AUDIT-C year. Clinical variables included smoking history (current, former, and never), severity of alcohol use (AUDIT C-score), comorbid substance use disorder diagnosis (by ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnosis code entry; opioid use disorder, AUD, stimulant or cocaine use disorder), active prescription for sedating medication (benzodiazepine, muscle relaxant, and antipsychotic prescription), or comorbid mental health disorder diagnosis (anxiety, depression, other mood disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia) at the time of positive AUDIT-C.…”