A DOSE OF REALITY THE U.S. MILITARY COMMUNITY AND FAMILIES
Veterans are at higher risks for chronic pain due to injury and/or combat experience and are often prescribed painkillers, such as opioids. Of those who were prescribed a pain medication, veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) were more likely to receive higher-dose opioids. Additionally, 27 percent of veterans diagnosed with PTSD also have a substance use disorder.
If You Suspect a Military Community Member You Know is at Risk
With more than 40 percent of U.S. opioid deaths involving a prescription, it’s important to pay attention to possible dangers associated with taking prescription opioids. It is not uncommon for veterans to become addicted to prescription opioids after taking them with chronic pain and the stress associated with it. This can lead to a lack of interest in spending time with family or friends, partaking in once-loved hobbies, and achieving personal goals and dreams. If you suspect that you or a military community member you know is suffering from opioid misuse, you can:
- Talk with your health care professional or prescribing doctor. If you’re concerned about a family member or friend, urge them to talk to their prescribing medical professional.
- Consider seeking long-term help at your local VA substance use treatment program.
- Learn the signs of addiction:
- Drowsiness
- Shallow or slow breathing
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Change in sleep habits
- Mood swings
- Extreme euphoria
- Irritability
- Abandonment of normal responsibilities
- Decreased motivation
- Depression
What You Can Do
- Only take your pain medications as prescribed. Make sure you take the right dose of medication at the right time and watch for signs of addiction.
- Don’t avoid taking your pain medication to save for a later time.
- Get help from your friends and family. They may be able to help you manage your opioids safely. Your medical provider may ask you to talk to your friends and family members about opioids and may ask for your permission to contact your family about your pain management.
- DO NOT take extra doses of your prescription opioids. If you take extra doses on your own, you may get very sick or die from an opioid overdose. You may also run out of your opioids before you can get your next refill. This may lead to withdrawal symptoms. Your medical provider will usually deny requests for early refills.
- If you have severe, increased or new pain, don’t just take more of your opioids. Call your pain care provider to decide on the best care plan.
- Protect your opioids from damage, loss, or theft. Keep your opioids in a safe, locked place, out of reach of family, children, visitors, and pets. Always store your opioids in the original labeled container.
- If you travel, carry the current bottle of opioids with you for your safety. This will help you answer any questions about the medication. If you’re concerned about the safety of storing medications in your home, talk to your provider. If someone steals your opioids or your opioid prescription, report the theft to the police. Give this report to your provider if you need a new prescription or early refill.
- Learn the signs of overdose and call 9-1-1 immediately if you suspect an overdose:
- Unresponsiveness or unconsciousness
- Slow, irregular heartbeat or pulse
- Slow, irregular breathing or no breathing
- Vomiting or gurgling
- Constricted pupils
- Blue or purple lips and/or fingernails
Resources
- Download Pain Coach, a pain management mobile app for veterans
- Visit the Veterans Health Library including the Patient/Family Management Toolkit
- Register on My HealtheVet to learn about resources for pain management
- Find Treatment at a VA Facility if necessary
- Find a Drug Take Back location near you
- Read Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Cooperating to reduce opioid abuse, harm to vets
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- Addiction Center
- DrugRehab.com
- Recovery Community Organization Development in Georgia
- Veterans Crisis Line
- The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Support for deaf and hard of hearing individuals is available. In some instances, callers may experience difficulty connecting with the Veterans Crisis Line. If you have trouble reaching the call line, please click here to connect to chat, or text 838255 for immediate support.More about the Veterans Crisis Line
- Georgia Department of Veterans Services Field Offices (see full list below)
VA Field Service Offices
Albany
Counties Served: Dougherty, Lee, Terrell, and Worth
Americus
Counties Served: Macon, Marion, Schley, Sumter, and Webster
Athens
Counties Served: Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, Madison, Oconee, and Oglethorpe
Atlanta
Counties Served: Fulton
Augusta
Counties Served: Columbia and Richmond
Bainbridge
Counties Served: Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Decatur, Early, Miller, Quitman, Randolph, and Seminole
Blairsville
Counties Served: Fannin, Rabun, Towns, and Union
Brunswick
Counties Served: Glynn, and McIntosh
Canton
Counties Served: Cherokee, Gilmer, and Pickens
Carrollton
Counties Served: Carroll and Douglas
Cartersville
Counties Served: Bartow and Paulding
Cedartown
Counties Served: Polk
This office is closed on Tuesday and Thursday.
Clarkesville
Counties Served: Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Stephens, and White
This office is closed on Wednesday.
Columbus
Counties Served: Chattahoochee, Muscogee, and Stewart
Conyers
Counties Served: Newton, Rockdale, and Walton
Cordele
Counties Served: Crisp, Dooly, and Wilcox
Dalton
Counties Served: Catoosa, Murray, and Whitfield
Decatur
Counties Served: DeKalb
Douglas
Counties Served: Appling, Coffee, Jeff Davis, Telfair, and Wheeler
Dublin
Counties Served: Bleckley, Dodge, Emanuel, Johnson, Laurens, Pulaski, and Treutlen
Fort McPherson
Counties Served: Clayton, Henry, Fayette, and Fulton
Gainesville
Counties Served: Dawson, Forsyth, Hall, and Lumpkin
Glennville
Counties Served: Bryan, Long, Tattnall, and Wayne
Greensboro
Counties Served: Glasscock, Greene, Morgan, Taliaferro, and Warren
Griffin
Counties Served: Butts, Fayette, Henry, Pike, Spalding, Talbot, and Upson
Hartwell
Counties Served: Elbert and Hart
This office is closed on Wednesday.
Hinesville
Counties Served: Liberty
LaFayette
Counties Served: Chattooga, Dade, and Walker
LaGrange
Counties Served: Harris, Heard, Meriwether, and Troup
Lawrenceville
Counties Served: Gwinnett
Lyons
Counties Served: Montgomery and Toombs
Macon
Counties Served: Bibb, Crawford, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Monroe, Taylor, and Twiggs
Marietta
Counties Served: Cobb
Milledgeville
Counties Served: Baldwin, Hancock, Putnam, Washington, and Wilkinson
Moultrie
Counties Served: Colquitt and Mitchell
Newnan
Counties Served: Coweta
Oakwood
Counties Served: Hall
Rome
Counties Served: Floyd, Gordon, and Haralson
Savannah
Counties Served: Chatham
St. Marys
Counties Served: Camden
Statesboro
Counties Served: Bulloch, Candler, Effingham, Evans, Jenkins, and Screven
Thomasville
Counties Served: Grady and Thomas
Tifton
Counties Served: Ben Hill, Irwin, Tift, and Turner
Valdosta
Counties Served: Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Lanier, and Lowndes
Warner Robins
Counties Served: Houston and Peach
Washington
Counties Served: Lincoln, McDuffie, and Wilkes
Waycross
Counties Served: Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Charlton, Clinch, Pierce, and Ware
Waynesboro
Counties Served: Burke and Jefferson