What is it about?
We examine the current status of the military relevance of opioids, their use and misuse in military and veteran populations, the national security consequences of opioid use in our military age population, public health implications, and military, veteran, and government solutions for opioid addiction
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Why is it important?
Combat wounded veterans have greater potential for opioid misuse than civilian populations. Assessment, management, and treatment of opioid use in this population are essential. Veterans receiving synthetic opioids have been noted to have multiple overdose risk factors. Opioids are readily available nationally as “street drugs” and also in the form of fentanyl-contaminated heroin. The opioid crisis affects the military age population and the top states for military enlistments. Younger age males with lower education and income are at significant risk for opioid use disorder. Recently increased drug overdose deaths contribute to an increased U.S. mortality rate to levels not seen in 100 years.
Perspectives
Given increasing rates of opioid addiction and death, viable solutions are universally needed. Successful intervention measures should be widely shared between military, veteran, and civilian healthcare and public health communities. Increased collaboration between these groups could inculcate successful programs to prevent and decrease opioid use.
Zygmunt Dembek
Battelle Memorial Institute
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Opioid Epidemic: Challenge to Military Medicine and National Security, Military Medicine, February 2020, Oxford University Press (OUP),
DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usz487.
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