Readable research linked to original sources
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Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
24 articles
Newest firstGulf War Illness (GWI) affects 32% of Veterans from the 1990-1991 Gulf War. It is characterized by fatigue, mood disturbances, pain and cognitive decrements, with no FDA-approved treatment. This exploratory randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of oleoylethanolamide (OEA) supplementation in 52 Veterans with GWI (mean age 59 ± 5 SD, 94% males and 79% White). Participan…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Two-thirds of adults in the United States (U.S.) find recreational and medical cannabis use acceptable. Evidence shows that cannabis use is an effective treatment for pain, and as a harm reducing therapeutic for Substance Use Disorder (SUD). In contrast to most SUD treatment models, some models allow illegal substance use as a harm reduction strategy, which is the case for the SUD treatment program exam…
Objectives To investigate whether initiation of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists is associated with both reduced risks of incident alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, nicotine, opioid, and other substance use disorders (SUDs) in people with no history of SUDs (protocol 1) and with reduced risk of SUD related adverse clinical outcomes among people with a pre-existing SUD (protocol 2). Design Emulation of e…
Open article record in new tab ↗Structured AbstractO_ST_ABSBackgroundC_ST_ABSPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition affecting people who experience traumatic events. Trauma-exposed occupational groups report higher rates of PTSD than the general population. Current treatments, and access, often take months and may cause distress when people are required to talk about the trauma. ObjectiveTo determine the proof of conc…
Background "Natural products" (NPs), including dietary supplements, are widely used, yet little is known about NP use for chronic pain and related conditions. Objective To develop a new NP survey to better understand reasons for NP use, beliefs, concerns, medication substitution, and provider disclosure. Methods Based on similar surveys and input from veteran focus groups and subject matter experts, a new brief NP…
Background Few studies have reported on the prevalence and health risks associated with substance use and substance use disorder (SU/SUD) in Veterans who use long-term opioid therapy (LTOT). We leveraged health record data to estimate SU/SUD prevalence and its association with mortality among Veterans on LTOT. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of cohort data for Veterans on LTOT within Veterans Health Admi…
Open article record in new tab ↗Importance In the context of the US opioid crisis, factors associated with the prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) must be identified to aid prevention and treatment. State medical cannabis laws (MCL) and recreational cannabis laws (RCL) are potential factors associated with OUD prevalence. Objective To examine changes in OUD prevalence associated with MCL and RCL enactment among veterans treated at the Vetera…
Background Veteran Response to Dosage in Chiropractic Therapy (VERDICT) was a pragmatic randomized trial testing chiropractic dosage effects in 766 veterans with chronic low back pain (CLBP) of ≥ 3 months. This cross-sectional analysis compares baseline characteristics of younger (18-to-64 years) and older veterans (≥ 65 years). Methods Data were collected from February 22, 2021 to May 21, 2025 via electronic heal…
Background This study examines the prospective associations of alcohol and drug misuse with suicidal behaviors among service members who have left active duty. We also evaluate potential moderating effects of other risk factors and whether substance misuse signals increased risk of transitioning from thinking about to attempting suicide. Method US Army veterans and deactivated reservists (N = 6,811) completed surv…
Introduction: Social sustainability is deeply connected to the well-being of marginalized groups, and it is important to highlight how mental health impacts the social inclusion of homeless individuals, particularly veterans. Homelessness is a growing global issue, disproportionately affecting U.S. veterans, with mental health challenges playing a significant role in its onset and perpetuation. Purpose: This study…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Quitting smoking may lead to improvement in substance use, psychiatric symptoms, and pain, especially among high-risk populations who are more likely to experience comorbid conditions. However, causal inferences regarding smoking cessation and its subsequent benefits have been limited. Methods We emulated a hypothetical open-label randomized control trial of smoking cessation using longitudinal observat…
Background Chronic pain affects over 100 million Americans, with a disproportionately high number being Veterans. Chronic pain is often difficult to treat and responds variably to medications, with many providing minimal relief or having adverse side effects that preclude use. Cannabidiol (CBD) has emerged as a potential treatment for chronic pain, yet research in this area remains limited, with few studies examin…
Background While emerging evidence supports a link between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and progressive cognitive dysfunction in Veterans, there is insufficient information on the impact of cannabis use disorder (CUD) on long-term cognitive disorders. This study aimed to examine the incidences of cognitive disorders in Veterans with TBI and CUD and to evaluate their relationship. Methods This retrospective cohort…
Open article record in new tab ↗Objective Cannabis use among veterans in Canada is an understudied public health priority. The current study examined cannabis use prevalence and the relationships between child maltreatment histories and deployment-related traumatic events (DRTEs) with past 12-month cannabis use including sex differences among Canadian veterans. Method Data were drawn from the 2018 Canadian Armed Forces Members and Veterans Menta…
Background Studies have demonstrated that individuals diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) frequently use medical and recreational cannabis to treat persistent symptoms of TBI, such as chronic pain and sleep disturbances, which can lead to cannabis use disorder (CUD). We aimed to determine the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) healthcare utilization and costs associated with CUD and dementia diagnosis in…
Background:Medical cannabis (MC) is used by Canadian Veterans to manage a wide range of health issues. However, there is little information comparing the reasons for MC use and its perceived effectiveness between Veterans and non-Veterans.Objects:We compared MC use among a convenience sample of Canadian Veterans and with non-Veteran controls, including demographics, reasons and patterns of use, and perceived effec…
Open article record in new tab ↗BackgroundCannabis is marketed as a treatment for pain. There is limited data on the prevalence of cannabis use and its correlates among Veterans prescribed opioids.ObjectiveTo examine the prevalence and correlates of cannabis use among Veterans prescribed opioids.DesignCross-sectional study.ParticipantsVeterans with a urine drug test (UDT) from Primary Care 2014–2018, in 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Ri…
Open article record in new tab ↗ObjectiveCanadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and Veterans are more likely to experience mental health (MH) conditions, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), than the general Canadian population. Previous research suggests that an increasing number of individuals are employing cannabis for MH symptom relief, despite a lack of robust evidence for its effectiveness in treating PTSD. This research aimed to: (1…
Open article record in new tab ↗According to the Center for Disease Control, there were more than 107,000 US drug overdose deaths in 2021, over 80,000 of which due to opioids. One of the more vulnerable populations is US military veterans. Nearly 250,000 military veterans suffer from substance-related disorders (SRD). For those seeking treatment, buprenorphine is prescribed to help treat opioid use disorder (OUD). Urinalysis is currently used to…
BackgroundMost analyses of excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic have employed aggregate data. Individual-level data from the largest integrated healthcare system in the US may enhance understanding of excess mortality. MethodsWe performed an observational cohort study following patients receiving care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) between 1 March 2018 and 28 February 2022. We estimated exce…