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A Contusive Model of Unilateral Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Using the Infinite Horizon Impactor
Published on: July 24, 2012
Opioid Use and Misuse and Suicidal Ideation Among Persons With Spinal Cord Injury: Differential Risk for Former
Clara E Dismuke-Greer1, Michael W Harris2, James S Krause2
1Health Economics Resource Center, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA 94025, United States.
Military Medicine
|August 6, 2026
Summary
Former Service Members (FSMs) with spinal cord injury (SCI) face increased suicide ideation (SI) risk when prescribed multiple opioids. Close monitoring of prescription opioid use is vital for all individuals with SCI.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience and Public Health
- Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry
Background:
- Spinal cord injury (SCI) survivors have higher risks for secondary conditions like pain, depression, and suicide.
- Opioid pain relievers are commonly prescribed for SCI-related pain, increasing risks of misuse and adverse outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare opioid use and misuse between Former Service Members (FSMs) and non-FSMs with SCI.
- To identify risk factors associated with suicide ideation (SI) in this population.
- To assess the relationship between opioid use/misuse and SI in FSMs versus non-FSMs.
Main Methods:
- Logistic regression analysis of data from 1,253 participants with SCI.
- Evaluation of risk factors for SI, including FSM status, opioid misuse, and multiple opioid prescriptions.
- Measurement of SI using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).
Main Results:
- SI was reported by 9% of FSMs and 13% of non-FSMs.
- Opioid misuse was linked to higher SI odds in non-FSMs; multiple opioid prescriptions (≥2) were linked to higher SI odds in FSMs.
- Prescription of 3 or more opioids significantly increased SI odds for both FSMs and non-FSMs, with FSMs having over 3 times the odds.
Conclusions:
- FSMs with SCI have a heightened risk of SI when using two or more types of opioids.
- Opioid prescription monitoring is crucial for mitigating SI risk in individuals with SCI.
- Further research into tailored interventions for FSMs with SCI and opioid use is warranted.
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