Trends and Trajectories of Prescription Opioids in the Military Health System
Abstract
Opioid analgesics are the most misused drug class in the United States, second only to marijuana. Misuse and abuse by military service members is now an urgent concern. Increased use of opioids to treat chronic pain appears to be related to increased opioid misuse and abuse. The 2009 Department of Defense (DoD) Survey of Health Related Behaviors among Active Duty Military Personnel revealed substantial increases in misuse of prescription drugs, attributed overwhelmingly to opioid analgesics. Both overall DoD and Army rates were significantly higher than the civilian rate of prescription drug misuse during the same period. To address similar problems with opioid misuse and abuse, states have initiated electronic prescription monitoring programs (PMP) that track all scheduled medications from pharmacies within the state. Objective: The objective of the project is to utilize PMP technology and innovations to develop and test an opioid-related misuse prevention intervention using surveillance and detection to support clinical care in military settings. We will include standardized population level and individual-user level reports and guidelines to inform utilization of PMP data. This will support future efforts to develop further intervention activities; for example, the development of provider and patient educational activities and brief interventions similar to those that have been developed by state PMPs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 28, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1069566
Entities
People
- Jennifer S. Potter
- Joseph K Maddry
Organizations
- 59th Medical Wing