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Reveal

Reveal

from The Center for Investigative Reporting

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Opiates

Prescriptions of four potent opiates to veterans more than tripled in the decade after 9/11, contributing to drug abuse, addiction and suicide. The VA is trying to combat the problem, with uneven results.

Posted inOpiates, Returning Home to Battle

Nearly 100,000 veterans prescribed dangerous tranquilizer-opiate combo

by Aaron Glantz March 26, 2015June 30, 2021

Nearly 100,000 veterans currently are receiving prescriptions for both tranquilizers and narcotic painkillers from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a potentially deadly combination that is explicitly discouraged by agency guidelines.

Posted inHealth Care for Veterans, Opiates, Returning Home to Battle

See results of government investigations into VA in Tomah, Wisconsin

by Aaron Glantz March 23, 2015June 30, 2021

Our investigation disclosing skyrocketing opiate prescriptions and retaliatory management practices at a VA medical center in Wisconsin touched off a variety of federal and state government investigations.

Posted inHealth Care for Veterans, Opiates, Returning Home to Battle

The death of baby Ada Mae and the tragic effects of addicted veterans

by Aaron Glantz March 14, 2015June 30, 2021

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Tomah, Wisconsin, notorious for its skyrocketing rate of opiate prescriptions, has contributed to dozens of tragedies that have affected people other than the veterans taking the drugs.

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Posted inOpiates, Returning Home to Battle

Dereliction of duty

by Julia B. Chan March 14, 2015July 1, 2021

In this episode of Reveal, we look at the power of a single photo, a VA doctor accused of handing out opiates to veterans like “candy” and surgery patients who got screwed out of legitimate medical hardware.

Posted inOpiates, Returning Home to Battle

Who’s responsible when America’s your drug dealer?

by Julia B. Chan March 14, 2015June 30, 2021

Meet the “Candy Man” – the chief of staff at a VA hospital in Tomah, Wisconsin. Hospital staff members say Dr. David Houlihan “hands out narcotics like they’re candy.”

Posted inHealth Care for Veterans, Opiates, Returning Home to Battle

Wisconsin VA’s opiate overprescription harmed patients, report finds

by Aaron Glantz March 10, 2015June 30, 2021

A preliminary report by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs revealed that runaway opiate prescriptions and a culture of fear created by hospital leadership compromised patient care and harmed the staff at the Tomah, Wisconsin, VA.

Posted inHealth Care, Health Care for Veterans, Opiates, Returning Home to Battle

VA gave $8,025 bonus to director of troubled Wisconsin hospital

by Aaron Glantz February 12, 2015June 30, 2021

Mario DeSanctis, director of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Tomah, Wisconsin, said his performance bonus was “warranted and justified” even though the facility was being investigated over runaway painkiller prescriptions and patient overdoses.

Posted inHealth Care, Health Care for Veterans, Opiates, Returning Home to Battle

VA inspector general finally releases report on Wisconsin hospital

by Aaron Glantz February 9, 2015June 30, 2021

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ inspector general’s office has publicly released its scathing report documenting runaway painkiller prescriptions and abuse of administrative authority at the VA hospital in Tomah, Wisconsin, nearly a year after it closed the case.

Posted inHealth Care, Opiates, Returning Home to Battle

Investigator visit to Wisconsin veterans hospital feels like déjà vu

by Aaron Glantz January 30, 2015January 30, 2015

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs investigated problems at the Tomah VA Medical Center for two years but never released an official report of its findings, leaving some to wonder whether the agency is capable of policing itself.

Posted inHealth Care, Opiates, Returning Home to Battle

VA to send specialists to investigate problems at Wisconsin hospital

by Aaron Glantz January 16, 2015January 22, 2015

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said it will conduct an internal investigation after a CIR report documented opiate overprescription and other issues at the Tomah VA hospital.

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