This won’t be a popular comment but this move by the VA/DEA has been needed for a long time. The VA has been spitting out drug addicted veterans since the 60’s, I was damn near one of them and my oldest daughter was one. Mine started with morphine after I was wounded in 71, switched to pills until I was able to get off of them in 73. My daughters started in 96 when she was injured in a training accident in Okinawa with the Navy. She and her husband divorced in 2012 and I suggested she move back in with me for a while.
The first thing she did was head to the VA then went to the local hospital, it didn’t take long for me to figure out what was going on. 90 day supply from the VA, 90 day supply from the hospital and 1 month from another hospital over in Midland. Long story short the VA did nothing when I confronted them but at least the doctors did. I spent over 60 thousand dollars putting her through a recovery center to cure her of her addiction. In talking to those at the recovery center I was told that most of their patients are veterans who came about their addictions the same way.
I absolutely want those veterans that need it to have it but this waterfall of addicted veterans they keep spitting out has got to stop some how. Is this the best way I don’t know but it’s a start that can be worked with or changed to solve the problem. I have numerous problems with the workings of the VA and this is just one, their alcoholic treatments are another, those two alone count for a large amount of Veteran being treated by the VA. The addiction train has got to be stopped!
As a PTSD vet who found himself dependent on benzodiazepines, I can sympathize.
However, I'll not blame the VA or doctors or anyone else for that.
It's still a personal choice.
And, that choice needs to be expanded to include Medical Marijuana.