Increase in Military Pain Killer Abuse, According to Pentagon Report

Last week USA Today posted an article that reported on US troops admiting to abusing prescription drugs, specifically pain relievers. The information came from a Pentagon health survey that was released last Wednesday.

The study, which surveyed more than 28,500 U.S. troops last year, showed that about 20% of Marines had also abused prescription drugs, mostly painkillers, in that same period.

Painkiller abuse among troops has soared since 2005, the last time a similar study was conducted. The 2005 survey showed that 4% of soldiers had abused painkillers in the previous 30 days, compared with 13% in 2008. Abuse within the previous year was 10% in 2005 compared with 22% in 2008.

USA Today article has more details on the report.

Addiction to prescription drugs is a real concern for those dealing with chronic pain or back pain. Back in May we posted a blog post about Paula Abdul’s battle with chronic pain. Below are some basic tips to help you avoid addiction to prescription drugs.

• Follow your doctor’s prescription precisely. Never double up a dose. Never take your medicine for any symptom besides pain.
• Find a specialist. Dealing with chronic pain is complicated. Your regular doctor may not be comfortable handing out long-term prescriptions for opioids. So seek out a specialist in pain management or, better yet, a pain management center. This is essential for people who have a past history of substance abuse.
• Don’t mix opioids with other drugs. If you already use prescription or over-the counter drugs, supplements, or alternative medicines, make sure your doctor knows about every single one. Ask about the safety of using your opioid painkillers with alcohol.
• Sign a pain agreement. These documents help build trust between a doctor and patient. A patient might promise to use the medication as instructed and, in some cases, agree to regular drug testing. In return, the doctor agrees to prescribe opioid pain relievers as part of the treatment plan.
• Take a screener. Experts now recommend that doctors use screeners — a short series of questions — that help them identify people who might be at higher risk of opioid abuse. Like pain agreements, they help build trust between patients and doctors.
• Ask about alternatives. Talk to your doctor about other ways you could reduce your back pain. Might non-opioid medicines help? What about surgery? Or non-traditional treatments like massage or relaxation?
• Get support. Consider seeing a therapist or joining a support group for people with back pain.
• Keep your medication in a safe place. Remember that it’s not only the person in pain who’s at risk of abusing opioids. So be careful. Don’t keep your medicine where other people — your children, grandchildren, friends, or neighbors — can get to it.

Tags: Back Pain