Durham Reporter

Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03), Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), and Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) collaborated with the Fleet Readiness Association to reintroduce the bipartisan legislation known as the Veteran Heroin Overdose Prevention Act (H.R. 5938). The aim of this act is to tackle and comprehend the opioid crisis affecting veterans.

"Between 2010 and 2016, the death rate from opioid overdoses among veterans increased by 65%. I introduced the Veteran's Heroin Overdose Prevention Examination Act (HOPE Act)", said Greg Murphy.

Murphy highlighted in a recent press release, "Veterans, who made immense sacrifices in defense of our country, deserve our reciprocal commitment to safeguarding their well-being. As a practicing physician and a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, I am dedicated to contributing to solutions addressing the opioid epidemic among veterans," according to Murphy.gov. He noted that North Carolina's veterans constitute 9.8% of the population and therefore this issue impacts constituents directly. The HOPE Act aims for comprehensive examination of veterans affected by opioid addiction and non-prescribed substance addictions, uncovering root causes and developing mitigation strategies. This bill represents a step towards restoring hope in lives of veterans and their families.

Screenshot of post | Greg Murphy

Joe Courtney expressed concerns about eastern Connecticut communities suffering under an ongoing opioid epidemic which also affects nation-wide veteran populations. From 2010 to 2019 there was a significant increase in opioid overdose mortality rate among veterans, at 53 percent. Courtney stressed how essential it is for resources provided by Veteran HOPE Act to be used for investigating veteran overdose deaths using VA records in order to identify risk factors that can help prevent lethal overdoses amongst those who served.

According to a statistical report by NCBI, U.S military veteran opioid overdose rates increased significantly by 53% between years 2010 - 2019 indicating an acute issue. The risks faced by veterans are multifaceted, involving physiological, psychological, and socio-structural factors. To understand opioid-related overdoses a thorough examination of pain, pain treatment, stress and experiences during and after military service is required. Interventions must address each dimension including naloxone distribution and low-threshold services like medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) along with complementary approaches. For veterans facing barriers to risk mitigation peer-delivered interventions are promising. Tailored interventions for socially isolated individuals are crucial through community care models especially for veterans not connected to the Veterans Health Administration. The perspectives of veterans with lived substance use experience is vital in designing effective overdose prevention resources and strategies for this population.