Zeel’s Game-Changing Service Delivers Non-Opioid Pain Relief
Opioids are killing our veterans
The statistics are shocking: Veterans with chronic or acute pain are twice as likely to be prescribed sedatives—and more likely to suffer adverse outcomes, including overdose and hospitalization. (4) This creates a widespread ripple effect:
- Problem Opioid Use (POU): Veterans are twice as likely to die from accidental opioid overdoses compared to non-service members. (5)
- Prescription Fallout: 1 in 5 Veterans of the Global War on Terror is prescribed opioids—fueling a systemic crisis that impacts entire families and communities. (6)
- System Failures: Veterans dealing with chronic pain, mental health issues, job instability, or housing challenges are at a higher risk for drug misuse and overdose.
Cleve Humvee, a decorated combat veteran, battled chronic pain for years. (7) Over time, the endless cycle of prescriptions led to addiction, financial ruin, and ultimately tragedy when he died from an opioid overdose.
“We’ve seen firsthand how many veterans— after a lifetime of service— can’t get the care they need quickly enough. But with rapid access to medical massage therapy, 94% report pain relief, and more than half reduce or even stop taking painkillers,” highlights Samer Hamadeh, Founder & CEO at Zeel.
Medical Massage Therapy: A Proven Alternative
For more than a decade, Zeel has been breaking new ground providing in-home massage therapy to millions. Since 2021, through the VA Community Care Network, Zeel’s has completed over 150,000 MMT appointments to treat veterans nationwide.
Here’s how Zeel makes a difference:
- Proven Efficacy: Medical massage directly targets chronic and acute pain, improves mobility, and reduces dependency on prescription drugs. It also helps alleviate anxiety, insomnia, and other mental health issues.
- Cost-Effective: Studies show medical massage therapy lowers pharmaceutical costs per patient, aligning seamlessly with VA goals to enhance both clinical and financial outcomes.
- Empowered Care: Zeel helps veterans take ownership of their health by integrating mobility exercises and education into their treatment plans.
- Unmatched Accessibility: In-home care eliminates transportation barriers, boosting compliance and outcomes.
A Mission Grounded in Service
Despite rising costs, MMT should be accessible to every veteran. That’s why Zeel is proud to offer a permanent 20% discount on all medical massage therapy services for veterans and active-duty members. This ensures more veterans get the care they need and deserve.
“For us, it’s about more than just treatment—it’s about restoring dignity, independence, and quality care of life,” said Hamadeh. “We owe our veterans more than gratitude. At Zeel, we’re proud to be part of a smarter, safer path forward—one that puts veterans’ well-being at the center of the solution.”
Got Questions About Medical Massage Therapy?
Learn more about our 20% veteran discount and how in-home therapy works by visiting zeel.com/military-discount or calling at 877-GET-ZEEL.
Follow us on Instagram @GetZeelVeteran.
About Zeel
Zeel is redefining access to care by delivering in-home and virtual health services focused on musculoskeletal pain, stress, and mental well-being. Its HIPAA-compliant platform connects patients to a national network of over 11,000 licensed providers—including massage therapists, physical therapists, nurses, and behavioral health professionals—offering care directly to the home. A proud member of the VA Community Care Network, Zeel provides in-network Medical Massage Therapy for veterans suffering from chronic pain, PTSD, and related conditions. Beyond veteran services, the company also supports corporate wellness and hospitality sectors with scalable on-site care solutions. Zeel blends technology, clinical excellence, and whole person care to make healthcare more personalized, convenient, and impactful.
For more information, visit http://www.zeel.com/military-discount.
References:
1. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VHA 2024 STATE of INNOVATION REPORT. 2024.
2. Bennett, Alex S., et al. “U.S. Military Veterans and the Opioid Overdose Crisis: A Review of Risk Factors and Prevention Efforts.” Annals of Medicine, vol. 54, no. 1, 1 Dec. 2022, pp. 1826–1838, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35792749/#:~:text=U.S.%20military%20veterans%20have%20been%20heavily%20impacted%20by, doi.org/10.1080/07853890.2022.2092896.
3. Otufowora, Ayodeji, et al. “The Effect of Veteran Status and Chronic Pain on Past 30-Day Sedative Use among Community-Dwelling Adult Males.” The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, vol. 37, no. 1, Jan. 2024, pp. 118–128, doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2023.230226r2. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
4. Na, Peter J., et al. “Problem Opioid Use among US Military Veterans: Prevalence, Correlates, and Psychiatric Characteristics.” Journal of Addiction Medicine, 18 Mar. 2024, doi.org/10.1097/adm.0000000000001286.
5. Rubin, Rita. “VA Efforts to Reduce Opioid Overdose Deaths in At-Risk Veterans.” Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), vol. 322, no. 24, 24 Dec. 2019, p. 2374, doi.org/10.1001/jama.2019.20562.
6. Seal, Karen H., et al. “Association of Mental Health Disorders with Prescription Opioids and High-Risk Opioid Use in US Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.” JAMA, vol. 307, no. 9, 7 Mar. 2012, doi.org/10.1001/jama.2012.234.
7. Fugett, Karie. “”My Husband Was a Veteran Living in Shame. He Died from an Opioid Addiction.”” Vox, 11 Nov. 2019, vox.com/first-person/2019/11/11/20955190/veterans-opioid-addiction-shame.
Media Inquiries:
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JOTO PR™
727-777-4629
jotopr.com
Media Contact
Karla Jo Helms, JOTO PR™, 727-777-4629, [email protected], jotopr.com
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