The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today it has successfully reduced prescription opioid use in patients within the VA health care system by 64%, from more than 679,000 Veterans in fiscal year 2012 to 247,000 in fiscal year 2020 through quarter three.
VA achieved this reduction by aggressively emphasizing the safe and responsible use of prescription opioids and transforming the treatment of chronic pain using alternative therapies and treatments often in place of or in conjunction with pain medication.
“Collectively, uncontrolled pain, distress and functional impairments can reduce the quality of life for Veterans and their families, increasing the risk for overdose, substance use disorders and suicide,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “More than one third of Veterans in the VA health care system live with some form of chronic pain, and given the opioid crisis, it is our duty to do everything we can to help Veterans avoid opioid overdose and provide them with alternative pain management treatment.”
VA’s Opioid Safety Initiative also reduced the number of patients receiving opioids and benzodiazepines together by 87% since 2012, from nearly 123,000 down to nearly 16,000 Veterans, as well as reduced the number of patients on long-term opioid medications by 70% and the number of patients on very high doses of opioids by 80%.