Central ND News

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer, along with U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Shelley Moore Capito, Tammy Baldwin, and Mike Braun, have penned a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough, urging for an update on the progress of non-opioid pain management options for veterans. The senators highlighted the importance of increasing the availability of non-opioid treatments to prevent addiction within the veteran community.

In the letter, the senators expressed their appreciation for the VA's commitment to providing top-notch healthcare to veterans. They emphasized the need for access to non-opioid pain alternatives within the VA system, stating, "As our nation’s largest integrated health care system, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) sets the standards for high-quality care. We write today to inquire about access to non-opioid pain alternatives throughout the VA system."

Recognizing the opioid addiction crisis affecting not only veterans but also active-duty service members, retirees, and their families, the senators stressed the urgency of protecting veterans from unnecessary exposure to prescription opioids. They cited alarming statistics, with "Nearly half of combat wounded veterans report misuse of prescription opioids" and "Drug overdose mortality rates among veterans also increased by 53% from 2010–2019."

The senators outlined specific queries in their letter, including the number of non-opioid pain alternatives currently in the VA National Formulary, the utilization frequency of non-opioid alternatives compared to opioid treatments for acute pain, steps taken to transition from opioid analgesics to non-opioid pain alternatives, and potential congressional support to facilitate these efforts.

The letter serves as a call to action for the VA to prioritize non-opioid pain management options and provide transparency on their efforts to combat opioid addiction within the veteran community.