Veterans with psychiatric disorders, especially those with serious mental health issues, are especially vulnerable to cannabis-use disorder, according to a new study warning of an increase in the condition.
Homeless Veterans More Likely to Receive Risky Benzodiazepine Prescriptions
Despite an elevated risk of mental illness and substance use disorder in most homeless populations, a scarcity of research exists on the use of psychiatric medications and understanding of prescribing practices among providers for these populations.
HIV Often Comorbid With Substance-Use Disorder Within VHA
HIV prevalence, which was elevated in all substance-use disorder patients at the VHA, was highest among veterans with alcohol- and opioid-use disorders (AUD/OUD), with disparities by race/ethnicity and age, according to a new study.
Sustained Virologic Response in HCV Not Lower With Alcohol Use
Traditionally treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been reserved for people who have abstained from alcohol—in some cases for as long as 12 months—largely due to concerns about adherence to treatment protocols, which stemmed from experience with previously used interferon-based regimens.
Daily Naltrexone Use Doesn’t Negatively Affect Performance in Soldiers
Daily use of naltrexone, a medication that blocks the effects of opioids with minimal side effects, doesn’t adversely affect the physical, cognitive or marksmanship performance of U.S. Army soldiers, according to a recent study.
Number of VA Patients Prescribed Opioids Has Plummeted in the Last Decade
The number of VHA patients with opioid prescriptions has plummeted by 67% since 2012, primarily because of the agency’s Opioid Safety Initiative (OSI) beginning a decade ago.
Eight Ways to Lengthen Life From a Recent Study of Veterans
Adopting eight healthy lifestyle habits by middle age can help substantially lengthen life, according to a new study of veterans.
Total Alcohol Abstinence Not Necessary to Benefit From CBT for Insomnia
Patients seeking treatment for insomnia are urged to abstain from alcohol, which is known to disrupt sleep. Sleep disturbances often continue, however, even in those who are abstinent, which decreases the likelihood of treatment completion and increases the risk of relapse.
VSOs: Veterans Waiting Too Long for Substance-Abuse Treatment
Veterans in need of residential substance abuse treatment are facing too-long delays in finding beds both at VA facilities and through community care, according to veterans’ service organizations.
Many Servicemembers With Opioid Disorder Fall Through Gaps in Handoff to VA
Veterans with opioid-use disorder (OUD) are at an increased risk for overdose and suicide in the year following discharge. For this reason, VA and DoD place a high value on the firm handoff of patients.
Educational, Peer Interventions Cut Risky Drinking Among Guardmembers
Risk drinking among reserve and active-duty military personnel is a threat not only to the health of the individuals, but also to their readiness if and when they are called to action.
Opioid Use Increases Among Veterans Who Are Dual-System Users
Veterans who use dual systems (i.e., both VA and non-VA services, for medical care) are more likely to receive a new opioid prescription and to receive a diagnosis of opioid use disorder, according to a recent study.
Stimulant Use Could Be a Key Factor in Heart Failure Development
Chronic heart failure affects an estimated 5% of veterans in the VA Health System, and annual mortality in heart failure patients is 15%
VA Analysis Sought to Determine Best Approach for Treatment of Alcohol Misuse
A new study sought to determine that. Noting that psychosocial approaches are “the hallmark of treatment for harmful alcohol use,” the report in the journal Addiction added, “We aimed to compare the effectiveness of psychosocial therapy for harmful alcohol use using a network meta-analysis approach.”
Measuring Ability to Resist in Alcohol Abuse Treatment
While about half of patients with alcohol use disorder prefer non-abstinence based approaches to treatment, it is not clear when that approach is beneficial.
Substance Use Disorders Increasing Fastest Among Older Veterans
The past few years have seen significant increases in diagnoses for cannabis and stimulant use disorder at the VA, especially among older adults.
New VA/DoD Pain Guideline Urges Buprenorphine Use Over Full Agonist Opioids
Recent VA/DoD guidelines call for new measures to reduce the use of opioid pain relievers in the management of chronic pain, including the preferential use of buprenorphine over full agonist opioids.
Telehealth Rollback Puts Veterans Receiving Opioid Addiction Treatment at Risk
When the COVID-19 pandemic prompted federal policy changes increasing the use of telehealth delivery, one of those was the increased delivery of buprenorphine
VA Program Successfully Reduces Post-Operative Opioid Prescriptions
Drug overdose is the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. For many, initial exposure to opioids occurs in the hospital following surgery, and current studies show that up to 75% of post-operative patients have unused opioid pills after discharge.
Many Veterans are Hesitant to Seek Help for Sleep Problems, Alcohol Abuse
Military service and trauma have been linked to an increased risk for substance abuse and mental health disorders. Yet research suggests a lack of willingness to seek treatment for these problems keeps many veterans from getting the help they need.
High Prescribing of Antibiotics, Opioids Linked In Medical, Dental Providers
Medical and dental providers who are high prescribers of antibiotics are also likely to be high prescribers of opioids, according to a new study.
What Factors Help Decrease Benzodiazepine Prescriptions in Older Veterans?
Benzodiazepines, including alprazolam (Xanax) and clonazepam (Klonopin), are among the most commonly prescribed drugs for anxiety and sleep disorders. They also carry a significant risk of side effects.
COVID-19 Telehealth Changes Improve VA Treatment for Opioid-Use Disorder
Implementing new policies during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced barriers to telehealth delivery of buprenorphine treatment for opioid-use disorder for veterans seeking care, a new study reports.
Marijuana Laws Linked to Increasing Cannabis-Use Disorder in Veterans
As laws and attitudes about marijuana use have been relaxed over the past two decades, the substance has become widely regarded by society as innocuous.
Military/VA Search for New, Nonopioid Methods to Combat Chronic Pain
The last decade has seen health systems the world over shift away from using opioids for pain management. First there was the too-slow understanding that opioids are addictive and were being massively over-prescribed.
Prescribing of Antipsychotic Medications for Dementia Dropped Overall at
VHA nursing homes are prescribing fewer antipsychotic and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) medications for dementia patients, but the overall prescribing of other psychotropic and opioid medications increased, according to a new study.
Deployment Increases Alcohol Misuse Risk Among National Guard, Reservists
Active-duty servicemembers face well known and quantified risk for alcohol misuse. Consequently, many return from combat to military bases, where they receive screening and have ready access to behavioral health.
VHA Offers Inconsistent Benzodiazepine Dosing for AWS
Hospitalized patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) —which is not uncommon—often have increased intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital lengths of stay, more hospital-acquired infections or sepsis and higher in-hospital mortality.
Opioid Safety Initiative Affected Cancer Pain Control
How has pain management for cancer patients been affected by the opioid epidemic and related risk reduction policies?
Stimulants, Drug Mixes Play Increasing Role in Fatal Overdoses
Fatal drug overdoses have surpassed automobile accidents in recent years as the leading cause of accidental death and, despite efforts to reverse that trend, the number of overdoses is rising.