Opioid Use Among Veterans 

Veterans and Opioid Addiction  

Opioid use among veterans is linked to a high rate of injury and chronic pain. Veterans often suffer from physical ailments that are the result of injury and trauma experienced in deployment. For this reason, veterans and opiates have a distinct and ongoing relationship.  

Common combat injuries in veterans include second and third-degree burns, broken bones, nerve damage, paralysis, shrapnel wounds, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, loss of sight and hearing, limb loss, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).3 Mental health disorders like PTSD, depression, and anxiety are common in veterans, each of which can contribute to substance abuse.   

According to veteran substance abuse statistics, more than 9% of veterans reported severe pain, compared to 6.4% of non-veterans, putting the former at higher risk for accidental opioid overdoses.4 Additionally, from 2001 to 2009, the percentage of veterans receiving opioid medications for pain increased from 17% to 24%.5 Similarly, the opioid overdose rate among veterans increased from 14% in 2010 to 21% in 2016.6 

While all veterans may be at an increased risk of opioid abuse, below are specific risk factors for opioid use disorder in veterans that could increase their risk:   

• Multiple Deployments/Tours: Adjusting from deployment to civilian life with spouses and kids can cause significant stress on veterans. Many of them wake up at home days after returning from deployment to find that they feel useless or as if they’ve lost purpose. Relationships may also have been strained by the amount of time they’ve spent away from home, meaning marriages and relationships with children may have to be rebuilt. Due to this stress, those who experience multiple deployments are at a higher risk of opioid abuse.  
• Combat Exposure: Experiencing combat can cause stress and trauma. As a result, alcohol abuse in veterans and military personnel is a common coping method.   
• Related Injuries: The misuse of prescription opioids like Vicodin and Oxycontin is prevalent in the veteran community as these drugs are commonly prescribed to treat severe and chronic pain. The wide availability of these substances poses a great risk for opioid addiction in veterans who have been prescribed medication to treat combat-related injuries and pain.  

Many individuals turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with mental illness, as well. Unfortunately, the Journal of Addictive Diseases found that veterans underestimate their risk for opioid overdose, exposing a dire need for opioid addiction treatment and overdose prevention among this demographic.7   

Signs of Veterans Opioid Use Disorder  

If you’re concerned that a loved one may be addicted to opioids, below are some signs of veteran opioid use to look out for:  

• Changes in exercise habits  
• Changes in sleep habits  
• Decreased libido  
• Doctor shopping or going to different doctors for multiple prescriptions  
• Drowsiness  
• Frequent flu-like symptoms  
• Inability to control how much or how often they use opioids  
• Inability to feel pleasure (anhedonia)  
• Isolation from family or friends  
• Neglecting responsibilities at home or work  
• New financial difficulties  
• Poor hygiene   
• Sedation  
• Slurred speech  
• Stealing from family, friends, or businesses to buy more drugs  
• Uncontrollable cravings  
• Weight loss  

Veterans and opioid abuse research also show that opioid dosage was the factor most consistently analyzed and associated with an increased risk of overdose. Other factors include concurrent use of sedatives and extended-release opioids and the presence of substance use and other mental illnesses.2 Therefore, be mindful of opioid use signs in veterans if they suffer from combat-related injuries or mental health disorders.