Afghanistan Veteran with PTSD died of overdose at Miami VA Rehab

IG: Vet overdosed while in VA rehab center
Army Times
By Patricia Kime
Staff writer
March 29, 2014

A veteran of the war in Afghanistan died of a heroin and cocaine overdose last year while receiving treatment at a Miami Veterans Affairs residential treatment facility, according to a VA inspector general report released Friday.

The veteran, who was in his 20s, had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological conditions as well as traumatic brain injury. He had a history of drug abuse while in the Miami VA Medical Center substance abuse residential rehabilitation program and had previously lost leave privileges for continued use of alcohol and illicit drugs.

But according to the IG report, the medical facility staff failed to check him for contraband after he had been allowed to leave for an afternoon and also failed to monitor the facility closely, increasing the potential for visitors to bring in banned substances or for patients to leave to get them.

According the the IG:

■The security surveillance camera for the program did not work at the time the patient died and still didn’t work three months later when the IG team visited.

■A staff member was not present at all times as required.

■Staff often stayed in a back room with limited view of the unit and no view of the entrances or exits.
read more here