Misuse of Prescribed Pain Medication and Prescribed Stimulants in a Military Population - Is There a Correlation with Deployment or Combat Illnesses and Injury?
Abstract
Objectives: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for stimulant misuse in a military population. Methods: We conducted a prospective, anonymous IRB approved survey in the emergency department waiting room of a military tertiary care hospital. We created a 12 question survey tool with fixed response (closed end) and multiple-choice questions. Stimulant misuse was defined as taking more than prescribed, obtaining stimulants from others and taking meds for a non-prescribed reason. Results: Subjects that misused stimulants were more likely to have PTSD, have a deployment related injury or have any new injury. Comparing stimulant misusers to proper users, there were no differences in age, gender, active duty status, education, location of deployment, number of times deployed, TBI diagnosis or enlisted status. Conclusion: Stimulant drug misuse occurs in the military community and those who misuse are more likely to have PTSD, a deployment related injury or a new physical injury than those who take stimulants as directed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 13, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA575882
Entities
People
- Jennifer Kennedy
- Jennifer Porter
- Sasha Ramirez
- Shawn Varney
- Victoria Ganem
- Vikhyat S Bebarta
Organizations
- 59th Medical Wing