By the Numbers: 12 December 2022

By the Numbers: 12 December 2022

2,262

Among 9,029 service members with combat injury, the number who developed alcohol use disorder, according to a recent article in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine -- Post-Combat-Injury Opioid Prescription and Alcohol Use Disorder in the Military. "1,322 developed severe alcohol use disorder".

Compared with no opioid prescription use, increased alcohol use disorder risk was associated with persistent opioid prescription use, with a hazard ratio of 1.13 (95% CI=1.02, 1.26). After covariate adjustment, increased risk remained statistically significant (hazards ratio=1.24; 95% CI=1.10, 1.39). There was no significant difference in alcohol use disorder risk between no opioid prescription use and nonpersistent opioid prescription use. The risk of severe alcohol use disorder did not vary by opioid use among servicemembers with alcohol use disorder diagnosis.