Benzodiazepine Use Among Low Back Pain Patients Concurrently Prescribed Opioids in the Military Health System

Abstract

Pain is a common complaint among returning deployed service members, with 25% reporting at least one pain-related injury during Basic Combat Training. Opioids are commonly prescribed to patients with low back pain (LBP) in the military health system. Concurrently prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines (benzos) pose safety risks for patients, including over-sedation and overdose. Despite abuse liability and long-term safety concerns of opioids for chronic pain, there are high rates (18-38%) of concurrent opioid and benzo prescribing. These high-risk prescribing patterns have contributed to the fatal opioid overdose epidemic. There is scant evidence regarding opioid and benzos prescribing practices among Active Duty Service Member(ADSM) with LBP. It is important to understand factors associated with benzos use in this population to identify those most vulnerable to safety issues. Objective: To investigate factors associated with benzos concurrently prescribed with opioids among ADSM with LBP, who started their first opioid episode in 2012 or 2013.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 27, 2017
Accession Number
AD1040790

Entities

People

  • Joseph K Maddry

Organizations

  • 59th Medical Wing

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Active Duty
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Health
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Mental Health
  • Military Medicine
  • Nervous System Diseases
  • Neurologic Manifestations
  • Pain
  • Training
  • Veterans Health

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

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