Seal KH, et al. - In view of the clinical practice guidelines admonishing against prescribing opioids for individuals with chronic pain and traumatic brain injury (TBI) given increased risk for adverse outcomes, researchers here sought to describe opioid prescribing patterns in these higher risk patients. Paradoxically, opioids for chronic pain were more frequently prescribed to veterans with greater TBI severity and comorbid mental health burden. In view of the health and safety risks of opioids, they suggested improved access to behavioral health and non-pharmacological modalities for chronic pain as beneficial for the more vulnerable veterans.