Opioid-Involved Overdose Among Male Afghanistan/Iraq-Era U.S. Military Veterans: A Multidimensional Perspective
Alex S Bennett1,2, Luther Elliott1,2, Andrew Golub1
1a Center for Community and Health Disparities Research , National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. , New York , NY , USA.
Substance Use & Misuse
|June 17, 2017
Summary
Opioid overdoses among U.S. Military veterans are linked to past trauma and social issues, not just immediate drug use. Comprehensive, holistic education is crucial for preventing veteran overdoses.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Veterans Affairs
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Opioid-related overdoses are a significant concern among U.S. Military veterans, mirroring national trends.
- Research has focused on immediate overdose behaviors, with less attention to underlying physiological, psychosocial, and structural factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the multifaceted influences contributing to opioid-related overdoses in U.S. Military veterans.
- To examine both immediate behavioral triggers and deeper, long-term risk factors for overdose events.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study using narrative interviews.
- 36 male veterans discharged after September 2001 who experienced opioid-related overdoses were interviewed.
- Data collected in New York City in 2014.
Main Results:
- Veterans' past experiences, including self-medication for pain, trauma, social isolation, and prior illicit drug use, predispose them to overdose.
- Immediate overdose precipitants include bingeing, drug mixing, unawareness of dosage, and ambivalence about life and death.
Conclusions:
- There is a need for comprehensive drug safety and overdose education tailored to veterans' unique physiological, psychological, and sociological circumstances.
- A holistic understanding of distal and proximal overdose risks is essential for developing effective prevention strategies for veterans and other vulnerable populations.
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