How our reporting on drug abuse at a San Diego rehab center continues to make an impact

Sometimes the impact of our reporting comes swiftly. Other times, it looks more like a slow drip. 

In the most recent case, evidence of our impact was spread across the pages of a government watchdog report.

We recently got word about the new federal report that flagged inadequate oversight of Veterans Village of San Diego, the nationally renowned rehabilitation center on Pacific Highway. inewsource is mentioned in the 55-page report 19 times. 

Loyal inewsource readers know we’ve been sounding the alarm for years: We exposed overdoses at the center, widespread drug use, unsafe living conditions, poor food quality and more. Seven VVSD clients have died since 2022. 

Our reporting has made an impact before. San Diego County, which contracted with VVSD to treat Drug Medi-Cal patients, paused admissions at one point. And in early 2023, the state placed VVSD’s license on an 18-month probation before ultimately revoking it last year.

Now we know the feds also took notice. The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General found that local VA facility staff were slow to take action as drug abuse and dealing at VVSD worsened. It issued several recommendations meant to improve policies and help veterans at VVSD who are eligible for clinical drug treatment obtain services.

The OIG said its review was prompted by an April 2022 hotline complaint, as well as an inquiry from U.S. Rep. Mike Levin following our reporting.

“In its administrative investigation, the OIG found that (Veterans Health Administration)’s oversight of VVSD was inadequate — particularly in light of the grantee’s prolonged and often ineffective responses to facility staff’s serious safety and care concerns,” the report said.

Among the OIG’s findings:

• VA staff did not enforce all proposed corrective actions stemming from a 2022 security inspection, including physical upgrades to help with security and surveillance.
• VA staff did not enforce VVSD’s staffing requirements while shortages and high turnover impacted veteran care and safety.
• While the review covered operations during 2021 and 2022, an additional review found that compliance issues persisted last year.

Our yearslong investigation required speaking with dozens of people, fighting for records and even enduring pushback from leaders who falsely claimed our reporting was misleading or inaccurate. 

Through it all, we’ve stood by our fact-checked, in-depth reporting. This latest federal report, issued nearly three years after we published our first story on VVSD, is another example of how our work — fueled by our supporters — can make a difference.

If you want to help us continue to provide high-impact journalism like this, here’s how.

Thank you,

— Jennifer Bowman, Assistant Editor