KCEN - Opioid abuse presents serious problem for veterans

News Article

By: Doug Currin

Junior John doesn't like to take medication.

"If you take it for one problem, it causes another problem," said John.

The Department of Veterans Affairs was treating him like so many other vets, with pills. It was causing problems with his daily life.

Senator Shelley Capito (R-WV) is working for changes for vets and their prescriptions for painkillers.

"Opioids have been prescribed and over prescribed and ended in tragic circumstances," said Capito.

Jason Simcacoski was over-prescribed pain meds that eventually killed him while he was in the VA's care.

Sen. Capito helped draft legislation in Senate bill 1641 that helps vets and sets regulations to make it tougher to get the narcotics so easily.

"Too many of our veterans have returned home from overseas duties only to fight another battle here at home," said Capito on the floor of the Senate.

Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX) echoed the issue, saying, doctors at the VA are partially responsible for the epidemic:

"If you think about it, it would have been better had the VA not overprescribed to start with," said Rep. Flores.

In the 1990's the Centers for Disease Control said doctors weren't treating pain properly, and that it should be treated as a fifth vital sign.

With opioid use, the more you use, the more you need, just to feel normal. It causes a snowball effect, and it's a serious problem for vets.

"People lose their jobs, said Dr. Kimberly Johnson with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in Bethesda, MD. "They get into situations where they are poor caretakers for their family. It causes divorce. It could lead to homelessness, and ruin peoples' lives even if they don't die."

John, who was stationed at Fort Hood, was on medications for his chronic pain, and is now off of them for alternative treatments at the Temple VA. He's getting acupuncture and his quality of life has drastically changed.

So, on Capitol Hill, lawmakers keep pushing for the legislation. But for now it seems it's D.C. as usual, gridlock.

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