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A sharp rise in fatal overdoses among active duty service members is a cause for alarm. At the end of September, this issue of avoidable deaths became a priority for Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.). As lead sponsor of the Opioid Treatment Access Act, Senator Markey is on the front lines. More importantly, he does not back down from the ongoing battle against the national overdose and opioid epidemic. As a former United States Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking member, Senator Markey understands the problem.

Moreover, he also is hyper-aware of the fatal overdoses illegal fentanyl causes as a street drug. Thus, the Stop Fentanyl Act is another product of the Senator’s efforts. With fentanyl driving the overdose rates nationwide, it is not surprising that active duty service members also fall victim to fatal overdoses.

With fellow Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and more supporters in the Senate, Senator Markey drafts a letter to the Department of Defense (DOD). In the letter, the Senators write, “The deaths and non-fatal overdoses at Fort Bragg, Fort Bliss, and West Point involve opioids and, more specifically, fentanyl, consumed both intentionally and unintentionally. The significant role opioids have played in overdoses occurring in military hospitals or involving active duty service members is well-documented.”

Fatal Overdoses in Active Duty Military and Veterans

From 2010 to 2016, there was a doubling of fatal overdoses among veterans. Since 2016, the deadly overdoses of veterans and active duty service members have continued to rise. As a provider of SUD Treatment Services for Veterans and Active Military Service Members, Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) also is on the front lines. A goal of TTC is to be a resource for active and veteran service members in need of recovery. Thus, we connect with those service members and raise awareness about SUD treatment options. Indeed, prevention and treatment efforts offer a path to reducing fatal overdose rates.

In the letter, the Senators outline a series of questions for Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III.

These questions include:

1. Are treatment options equally accessible at all military installations, including MAT Services?
2. How does the DOD provide for the families of active duty members who die from fatal overdoses?
3. What protocol exists for DOD to identify and respond to an uptick in fatal overdoses?

Raising awareness about National Overdose Awareness Day (October 21 each year), the effort of politicians in Washington to address the crisis is a positive step in the right direction. However, more needs to be accomplished.

As a provider of recovery treatment, including MAT Services, TTC hopes to support these efforts. More lives can be saved if the federal government includes recovery-oriented organizations, particularly nonprofits like TTC. To learn more about how TTC can help, please contact us today.