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We don't know how many veterans died by overdose in the US from 2001 to 2021.
From 2010 to 2019, 42,627 veterans died by overdose nationally, compared to 65,547 veterans who died by suicide. The largest absolute and relative increases in overdose mortality rates were in the Northeast region. Veterans age 65+ had the largest relative increase in overdose mortality over time.
Across all VA facilities from 2008 to 2017, VA researchers found that mortality risk was four times greater for veterans diagnosed with OUD who were not receiving buprenorphine compared to those who did.
US Military Fatal & NonFatal Overdoses
US Military Fatal & NonFatal Overdoses
From 2017 to 2021, a total of 15,293 active duty service members had overdoses. There were 332 fatal overdoses, of which 42 were classified as suicides (12.7 percent).
Most fatal overdoses involved enlisted members (96 percent) under age 34 (80 percent). Around 7.5 percent were women.
Around 13.6 percent involved opioids only and 9 percent involved alcohol only, with the majority of overdoses involving multiple substances.
There were 14,961 service members with nonfatal overdoses. Around 32 percent were women. Around 42.4 percent of nonfatal overdoses were classified as intentional (which may reflect people at high risk for future suicide attempts).
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