Factors Associated with Opioid Initiation in OEF/OIF/OND Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Objective These analyses examined opioid initiation and chronic use among Iraq (OIF) and Afghanistan (OEF/OND) veterans with a new diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Methods Data were obtained from national VHA data repositories. Analyses included OEF/OIF/OND veterans with a new TBI diagnosis in 2010–2012 who used the VHA at least twice, had not received a VHA opioid prescription in the 365 days before diagnosis, and had at least 365 days of data available after TBI diagnosis. Results Analyses included 35,621 veterans. Twenty-one percent initiated opioids; among new initiators, 23% used chronically. The mean dose was 24.0 mg morphine equivalent dose (MED) daily (SD = 24.26); mean days supplied was 60.52 (SD = 74.69). Initiation was significantly associated with age 36–45 years (odds ratio [OR] = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.01–1.17, P = 0.04), female gender (OR = 1.22, P