The use of prescription pain medications has sharply increased among soldiers since the beginning of the war, rising from 30,000 monthly prescriptions to more than 50,000 monthly prescriptions. 

In 2005, more than 16,000 service members were surveyed.  Of these, 4% admitted to abusing prescription drugs in the last month; 10% admitted to abuse in the last twelve months. 

More than 350,000 troops report pain, the majority related to orthopedic injuries resulting from deployment.  Of these cases, half are considered to be chronic, with at least 30% of the injuries hindering daily life. 

Narcotics have been prescribed for pain management among soldiers for decades.  It is expected that this frequent solution is causing a crisis among the military.  Soldiers are vulnerable to prescription abuse and the illicit disbursement due to close living quarters, combat related stress and at risk demographics.

The Pentagon is currently seeking to develop alternative pain management programs to help curb the risk of prescription drug addiction and misuse among service members.