New Opioids and TBI Grantees Brief

ACL has released a new Opioids and TBI Grantees Brief.

In a previous brief, ACL's NIDILRR found that people with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have significantly greater risk for opioid misuse and overdose. People with TBIs often experience chronic headaches and musculoskeletal injuries for which physicians prescribe opioids. In addition, people with TBIs often have difficulty managing these prescriptions due to memory lapses and reduced impulse control. Analyses of 14,398 subjects in the NIDILRR Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems database revealed that people with traumatic brain injury were 11 times more likely to die of overdose than the non-brain injured population. Not only is having a TBI a risk factor for opioid misuse, but opioid misuse can be a risk factor for an acquired brain injury resulting from a lack of oxygen to the brain.

Because of the increased risks for someone with a TBI who may require opioids coupled with other pain management interventions, ACL’s TBI State Partnership Program has established a three-pronged approach to improve outcomes for people with TBIs. The brief also highlights promising practices from states.

Download the Opioids and TBI Grantees Brief.

Learn more about ACL's TBI State Partnership Program.