Should getting our soldiers hooked on narcotics & maintaining life at a minimal level of existence be illegal?

Doug Macdonald — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 10:44:16 -0500

That's exactly what big pharmaceutical & the medical profession has set as standard protocol for treating PTSD & other brain disorders. Today, the president announces we are about to spend 100's of millions of dollars to study treatment for opiate addiction. Another opportunity for big pharma to create another addictive drug to replace the last one. Stop the madness!

Response by CDR Michael Goldschmidt made Feb 9 at 2016 11:01 AM

CDR Michael Goldschmidt — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 11:01:24 -0500

Half of the gun deaths are suicides.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Feb 9 at 2016 11:21 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 11:21:43 -0500

I'm kinda biased being I know what its like to be on heavy meds for PTSD. In some cases, those meds are important and will make a hell of a difference in someone's life. I'd ask the community would you rather have someone "dumbed down" with the meds than have that same person dead or in prison for not being on them? At least "dumbed down" he can interact and learn coping skills that might be able to lessen the burden of PTSD. And if it's not Big Pharma, Alcohol is another way of "self medicating". What are we going to do them? It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation, and me personally, I'd much rather see my battle alive and a lil loopy than to read about how the doctors were covering their asses by taking them off and he's gone.

Response by Cpl Kevin Lynch made Feb 9 at 2016 11:31 AM

Cpl Kevin Lynch — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 11:31:59 -0500

No I don't think that veterans who are needing to receive care should be drugged up

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Feb 9 at 2016 12:15 PM

MSgt Michael Smith — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 12:15:44 -0500

Hard question. Hard topic. You are dealing with a reality that people do not want to talk about here. A lot of Combat Vets return with injuries that are never going to heal fully. Many will live with terrible pain or traumatic mental illness for the rest of their lives. There isn't really a solution to that, so oftentimes, the VA and the medical field in general do whatever they can to make a person as comfortable and close to a normal life as possible. Palliative care is what they call it in Hospice, when the dying are made more comfortable. In a way it is like that, except long term. When a full recovery from physical or mental trauma is not realistic or even achievable, what can you do to give a Vet the best life possible? As I said, hard question.

Response by SSG Sean Honea made Feb 9 at 2016 12:25 PM

SSG Sean Honea — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 12:25:48 -0500

https://acupuncturenowfoundation.org/2016/01/acupuncture-and-the-opioid-crisis/

Two acupuncture organizations have joined forces to gather research "regarding acupuncture’s potential in reducing or eliminating the need for opioids as well as its ability to treat opioid addiction" in order to send the info on to policy makers. I'll keep you posted as their research continues.

Acupuncture and the Opioid Crisis |

Our Mission: To elevate acupuncture's impact on easing suffering and enhancing health through accurate information about its best practices.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Feb 9 at 2016 3:31 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 15:31:43 -0500

Legalize Pot and cut the pharmaceuticals out, Power to the People.

Response by SFC Robert Luscomb made Feb 10 at 2016 1:50 AM

SFC Robert Luscomb — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 01:50:20 -0500

I over medicated just so I didn't have to deal with reality. I'm so glad I'm clean and dealing with reality now, I have a wonderful family and a great life, if I had kept going down the path I was, I would have become a statistic.

Response by SPC Tanya Cummings Boozer made Feb 10 at 2016 12:40 PM

SPC Tanya Cummings Boozer — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 12:40:19 -0500

Speaking as a veteran who was once hooked on opiates and had to get off of them without the help of the VA who got me hooked and was taking 22 different prescription meds at that time, which were literally killing me slowly, some almost caused me to take my own life, and a trained Master Herbalist and Holistic Health Counselor who has helped hundreds of veterans get off their medications and continues to do so, I think the whole FDA is illegal and should be shut down, considering it was started by someone who was not even a medical doctor/who could not even pass medical school!
Here is my own health testimony, which is a work in progress. http://mountaingrannys.com/2015/10/testimony-road-regaining-vibrant-health/

My Testimony On The Road To Regaining Vibrant Health

This is mytestimony on the road to regaining my vibrant health and taking back my life;YOU can do the same thing. Let’s walk that road hand in hand, holding oneanother up when needed and cheering…

Response by SPC Terry Knarr made Feb 10 at 2016 4:16 PM

SPC Terry Knarr — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 16:16:14 -0500

Firstly, no, since any illegal drugs are "illegal"
Second, PTSD is a hard thing to cure or at least suppress, I was offered pot as a suppressant earlier on, but I refused it (this was before the entire legalization thing in CA), I'd see it would be a good suppressant if we were to say that it had no negative effects with prolonged use

Response by Sgt Sherry Taylor-Bruce made Feb 12 at 2016 12:32 AM

Sgt Sherry Taylor-Bruce — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 00:32:44 -0500

I'm so sorry for those of you that had bad experiences with opioid addiction prescribed by VA doctors. I see a psychologist every month and nurse practitioner every three months to monitor my meds. I need the monthly talk therapy to help me cope with Breast Cancer issues and the loss of my husband the day after my cancer surgery. It was traumatic finding my husband passed away in his sleep and attempting CPR unsuccessfully. My psychologist treats my depression and anxiety with some PTSD techniques. We also make sure my meds are clean
(non addictive). My Dr. Encourages my volunteer work which is very fulfilling to me. We must advocate for ourselves taking advantage of individual talk or group therapy and researching different medications to discuss with your doctor in order to help reduce narcotics use.