VA’s Office of Research and Development recently published three News Briefs highlighting research findings on reducing chronic pain, the link between toxic exposure and suicide, and how long-term opioid therapy may lead to dental disease.
VA’s Whole Health approach reduces chronic pain
A study of almost 800 Veterans across six VA health systems showed that VA’s Whole Health approach to care can reduce how much chronic pain interferes with a Veteran’s daily life.
Whole Health involves individualized, interdisciplinary care focused on personal health goals, non-drug therapies and wellness coaching. After 12 months of treatment, Veterans with chronic pain receiving Whole Health care had greater improvements in pain interference than those receiving the usual care or cognitive behavioral therapy, which is a type of talk therapy. The study also demonstrated that Whole Health for chronic pain can be delivered successfully via telehealth. The results suggest the Whole Health team model can be an effective approach to managing chronic pain.
View the full study from “JAMA.”
Toxic exposure linked to increased suicide risk
VA Durham researchers and their colleagues learned that Veterans who experienced multiple toxic exposures had 17% higher odds of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, compared with Veterans who did not report exposures.
The researchers assessed military exposure to nine different toxins in nearly 250,000 Veterans from the Million Veteran Program. They found each additional toxic exposure increased a Veteran’s suicide risk. This association held true across all service eras, from pre-Vietnam through post-9/11. Analysis revealed the link between toxic exposure and suicide could be attributed to the higher rates of PTSD and depression in Veterans with more exposure. The results highlight a need to consider toxic exposures when assessing Veterans for suicide risk.
View the full study from “Psychiatric Research.”
Long-term opioid use may lead to dental disease
A study led by VA Connecticut researchers found long-term opioid therapy was linked to higher risk of infection-related dental disease.
The study included data on more than 2 million Veterans, 36% of whom received long-term opioid therapy. Those taking opioid medications for more than 90 days had a 24% higher chance of tooth decay, infections or tooth loss. The researchers suggest the immune suppression and reduced saliva flow caused by opioids may explain this connection. The findings suggest oral health risks need to be taken into account when prescribing long-term opioid therapy.
View the full study from “PLoS One.”
For more Office of Research and Development updates, visit ORD online or go to https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/.
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It’s a Gulf War veteran who served in the fields in Kuwait exposed to high amounts of carbon from oil wells. Also, we were burning our own feces and garbage. Has a infantryman. I got sick there and I was sick when I came back but I never went to sick call. As a former US Marine 0311 fighting with the VA for anything for disability is like pulling teeth. It’s denied, denied deny. They’re so shameful.
Looks like very weak research, veteran satisfaction metrics with pain management are unlawful under the Support Act and the VA has adopted those standards so it’s just fake and manipulated findings regarding chronic pain. As for the tooth decay with the opioid use is related to Suboxone and the films however the VA continues to force everything through that anti opioid lens and one-sided findings.
The final show down on definitive evidence versus red tape
is taking place as we speak. The most central and used tool
in medical science that isnt for veterans with toxic exposures.
In 1970 the NHATs program began. National Human Adipose Tissue
survey. EPA was looking at adipose fatty tissue showing toxins
that could be measured.Went on till 1989. Ran out of funding.
National Academy of Science wrote “Monitoring Human Tissues for
Toxic Substances” in 1991 apparently in follow up to this. It
discusses NHAT and was charged with finding ways to improve on
it. To monitor human tissues for toxins via a national storage
facility. It only collected 12,000 samples and had conflicting
results. Then NHMP taken over by ATSDR at the CDC.
Which did nothing. Then the NAS did another review in 1995.Then
in 2017.
They had been using GCMS, Gas chromatography – Mass Spectroscopy
to look at the samples since 1970.56 years this is the standard
for FDA food monitoring, USDA, of items like fish, milk, cheese
for industrial pollutants. GCMS is the very backbone of forensic
technology in cases of poisoning. As this is a molecular sieve
that gives exact numbers of atomic ions it counts.
Ive tried like hell for 4 years to get a adipose fatty tissue
sample taken. Get it run through a GCMS full spectrum.VA approved
September 2025 only to find Scott & White could not get the GCMS
analysis I wanted. I contacted lab at after nation wide. Tried
state medical examiners. Anyone with a GCMS. They were ugly with me
about it. That I needed lawyer to even talk to them.
The point here is, GCMS with show burden toxins in the adipose
fatty tissue. NAS and medical science knows this is the preferred
method for 56 years. Medical science does not even address this is
autopsies any more. They look at bone, hair, eyeball fluid, and
femoral blood. Body fat is the true location to look and they
dont. Much less tissues from living person. So forensic medicine
sees no trend because they do not est for one. The dirty dozen,
PFAs, PCBs, PFOS, and such are not looked at as secondary causes
of death.
Modern medicine is pointing to this. Each week more Dioxins, Furans
and such show up in water / food supply testing. Every American has
this in there body fat. Its time to extract adipose tissue and use
GCMS to confirm toxins. To establish clinical evidence that the
system cant dispute. Which right now its fully blocking all access
to for veterans.
This will be the standard in 10 years. Lets make it happen now.