The VA Over Prescribing Pills and Getting Veterans Addicted

Hundreds of thousands of veterans are given prescription opiates, the addiction epidemic continues.

For many soldiers adjusting to home is a hard battle to face, and the overprescribing of opiate medication doesn’t make it any easier. They can come home with emotional pain, injuries and disorders like PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). VA statistics showed that over 161,000 veterans were receiving disability compensation for PTSD, in 2004.

According to a NPR radio segment 1 in 3 veterans use about 10 different medications to cope with everything from anxiety to PTSD. This year, the Department of Veterans Affairs is treating about 650,000 veterans by giving them opiates.

Timothy Fazio is a soldier that can relate to the alarming statistics. He became addicted to prescription painkillers when he was treated for a hand injury he suffered, while serving in Iraq. During 2008-2011 Fazio was prescribed over 3,600 pills containing oxycodone, a prescription opioid painkiller similar to heroin. His medical records entailed that he wanted to detox, and that he had overdosed on 6 different occasions.

VA doctors wrote more than 6.5 million prescriptions for hydrocodone, methadone, oxycodone and morphine, CIR found in 2012.

Waismann Method ®

The Waismann Method has treated a number of military veterans with oxycodone, methadone, suboxone and even heroin addiction, with our specialized rapid drug detox. The Waismann Method eliminates most of the severe symptoms associated with opiate withdrawal and offers a complete drug treatment program to ensure recovery.

References:

1. Lawrence Q. “Veterans Kick the Prescription Pill Habit, Against Doctors’ Orders.” All Things Considered, NPR, July 11, 2014.
2. “For Veterans With PTSD, A New Demon: Their Meds.” The Wall Street Journal, November 10,2013
3. “Veterans Affairs: Painkillers,” CIR research cironline.org, September, 28, 2013