War veterans with severe pain may need drugs like morphine and hydrocodone to manage it, but the medications are associated with higher rates of overdose and self-harm in those with post-traumatic stress.

By Maia Szalavitz
Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan war are more than twice as likely to be prescribed opioid medications, such as morphine and hydrocodone, for their physical pain if they also have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These soldiers are also more likely to overdose on drugs or alcohol, be involved in violence or self-harming behavior, including suicide, or have other accidents than veterans who do not use the pain relievers, according to a new study.

Researchers examined the records of nearly 16,000 veterans in treatment for pain-related problems at Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and physicians’ offices. About 51% were diagnosed with some type of mental health disorder as well as pain, with 32% having PTSD either alone or in combination with another mental health condition like depression.

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