Read in Time Magazine:
America's Medicated Army By Mark Thompson
Jun. 05, 2008
Prozac and other antidepressants along with prescription sleep-aids are being ladled out to our troops. Last count, more than 20,000 troops are receiving such meds in Afghanistan and Iraq. What a good place to be hopped-up on psychotropic medications.
And if you think they're getting follow-up visits to the psychiatrists who prescribed the drugs -- think again. The mental health professionals are spread just as thin as the soldiers are. They're in a 'take-a-number' mode.
Not to mention the fact that 'young people' [which include most of the soldiers we're talking about here] can have such side-effects as increased suicidal ideation.
SO--let's increase thoughts of suicide among kids with guns. Another great idea.
Like you, I've been hearing about the increase in suicide among our troops. What I didn't know is that our government was helping to elevate the numbers not only by forcing them to return time-after-time-after-time but by giving them drugs that increase the chance they'll actually, you know, kill themselves.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon is thinking about increasing the scope of the Purple Heart to include the diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Oh, that's OK, then.
^^^
Click here for the article in Time.
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11 comments:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
That is a misnomer if there ever was one.
When you place a human being in a situation where they are required to destroy, torture, and kill; when they see, or are involved in, these atrocities, many times involving innocent women and children, it would be a disorder if they weren't affected. It is totally normal for people to be traumatized when subjected to these conditions.
The real mental disorder lies with the *sswipes that send our young men and women into these situations for their greedy, venal agendas.
Then they have the unmitigated gall to profess how much they support the troops.
I am reminded of Mark 7:6 --- "Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me."
Bush and his minions are self-proclaimed born-again Christians. In reality, they are nothing more than charlatans and carpetbaggers. I don't envy the fate that awaits them. When Judgement Day comes, it would be better for them that they were never born.
right on, brother tim--
couldn't have said it better, meself.
unfortunately, the drugs they get over there so they can keep being redeployed will be stopped as soon as they get home and there will be no counseling follow-up.
the suicides will continue and homelessness will skyrocket among the 'survivors' as people find they can't readjust to a safe environment.
xxx
what happened to the Hippocratic Oath, 'Above all, do no harm?'
Amen, Brother Tim.
Not to stir up more dread in this scenario, but am I the only one who worrys about this aspect?
If the Gulf War created one disturbed vet like Oklahoma bomber Tim McVey, how many more will Bush's criminal war produce?
Soon these traumatized souls will be off all psych care and other benefits.
What new hell will we reap from this unending nightmare?
"what happened to the Hippocratic Oath, 'Above all, do no harm?'"
Excellent point, Two Crows!
They imprisoned Dr Jack Kevorkian for giving terminal patients an easy, peaceful way out; yet authorize slow, painful, traumatic deaths for our military men and women. This Administration is calloused to the core. Our most precious resource, our young, are truly nothing more than cannon fodder to them.
Dave--
We reap what we sow. But I'm certain Bush and the Neocons will find someone to lay the blame on. Couldn't be THEIR fault.
Heckuva job, Chimpy!
hi, dave dubbya--
I hadn't thought about that but it is obvious, now that you mention it, the PTSD could cause anything from suicide to a tower or McDonalds shooting -- all courtesy of Bush/Cheney.
I had a ghoulish thought just now.
"Suicide: Well, that's ONE way not to have to pay for a GI Bill."
'They imprisoned Dr Jack Kevorkian for giving terminal patients an easy, peaceful way out; yet authorize slow, painful, traumatic deaths for our military men and women.'
and fought tooth and nail over Terri Schiavo.
but, it's all about votes. life and dignity have NOTHING to do with it.
the way things are going, they'll get neither -- and serve them right.
There used to be a time that the military would not take someone who was ADHD or on any medication such as Prozak, now they are handing the stuff out like candy?
I understand that some people need to be on drugs like Prozak or Aderall, they do help in many cases. But they must be controlled with regular appointments with a Psychiatrist. There are so many factors that go into the dosage and the wrong dosage could leave devastating results.
This is so sad, and I have little hope that this will change in the near future. Our military is a mess, not because of the troops, but because of their leaders who have become so ensconced in politics .
PTSD is not a new phenomenon : 'treatment' is mostly a fantasy requiring ( ahem ) prompt diagnosis and attention for even decent minor results.
Neither is 'screwing the troops' new ; especially veterans.
http://www.thebrokensoldier.com/
hi, opit and welcome to PP&D--
actually, I've successfully treated PTSD years after the trauma occurred. it was a long and arduous process [the disorder had morphed into full-blown Borderline Personality by the time diagnosis occurred].
so, I know treatment CAN be successful but it is mostly beyond the means of people who are afflicted by PTSD since they have so much difficulty doing things like holding a job, creating and/or remaining in a stable home, following up on treatment recommendations, etc.
and, in these cases, the gov't won't pay for the treatment, of course, so these poor souls are SOL.
That article in time certainly opened my eyes to this issue. Glad awareness is spreading.(Visual response: http://www.zegiel.net/?p=449).
hi, Daniel and welcome to PP&D--
I took a look at your surreal response. what a good illustration of situation.
xxx
this latest move against our kids is SO criminal.
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