Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 1, 2025

Author Spotlight: Methodologies and Advancements of Chronic Pain Management Research
Published on: January 5, 2024
The Effect of Veteran Status and Chronic Pain on Past 30-Day Sedative Use Among Community-Dwelling Adult Males
Ayodeji Otufowora1, Yiyang Liu2, Aderonke Okusanya2
1From the Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY (A Otufowora); Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (YL, LBC); Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Western New England University, Springfield, MA (A Okusanya); Department of Medicine & Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu Campus, Ogun State, Nigeria (A Ogidan); Department of Public Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC (A Okusanya). ao2895@cumc.columbia.edu.
Introduction:
Given the high sedative prescription rate, the sedative-associated morbidity, and mortality nationally (especially among veterans), we aimed to test the hypothesis that veteran status in the presence of chronic pain would be associated with greater sedative use when compared with nonveteran status.
Methods:
The study participants were recruited by Community Health Workers (CHWs) through the ongoing community engagement program (HealthStreet) at the University of Florida. CHWs collected information on sociodemographic factors, health status, and past 30-day drug use patterns.
Results:
The study sample comprised 4,732 male participants, of which 21% were veterans, 58% were Blacks and 8.4% had used prescription sedatives in the past 30 days. Veterans (vs nonveterans) were twice as likely to have used prescription sedatives in the past 30 days in the presence of chronic pain.
Conclusions:
Veterans with chronic pain are a high-risk population for current prescription sedative use.
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