Family says accused soldier needs PTSD treatment, not punishment

Star-Telegram ^ | Jul. 13, 2012 | By Chris Vaughn

[huldah1776]

"The commanding general of the 18th Airborne Corps, Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, has agreed to take jurisdiction of Eisenhauer's criminal case, but only if Cumberland County District Attorney William West asks.

"We worked very hard to convince the military that the fair and appropriate thing for them to do was request prosecutorial jurisdiction, and they have agreed to do that," said Mark Waple, Eisenhauer's attorney and a West Point-educated former Army attorney. "Now the ball is in the court of the Cumberland County district attorney's office. We hope to have a response from them within the next few days. What happens next depends on what that response is."

[huldah1776]

My comment at site:

"First of all, what is up with this being put under the manufacturing industry topic? Who is the shmuck responsible for practicing his freedom of speech that was protected by this young man, Josh? and the Tags? district attorneys and shoot out tournament? What a disgrace to this paper! ...[I have contacted the author and the online editor]

The parents of this fine young man need to contact the politicians. I looked for support groups on the internet for those of you suffering from PTS and there are NONE.

Is this administration not doing anything about this because they do not want to help the warriors but want them to suffer alone? This tears the fabric of the military, and those in the military vow to defend the Constitution that this administration ignores and abhors. This is NOT a coincidence!

[To-Whose-Benefit?]

“As far as we can tell from his medical records, he had very few therapy sessions and was unfortunately being treated with anti-anxiety medications, specifically benzodiazepines,” Waple said.

Benzodiazepines are classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration as depressants, and they are known for creating addiction. Large doses, or chronic doses, are “associated with amnesia, hostility, irritability, and vivid or disturbing dreams,” according to the DEA.

Alarmed by increasing abuse of the drugs within the Army and accidental overdoses by soldiers on complex drug cocktails, the Army surgeon general released new standards this spring that stop the use of the drugs to treat post-traumatic stress.”

We are going to keep seeing this story repeated unless and until the Military cleans these crap, emotional and perceptual distorting drugs removed and completely banned.

[To-Whose-Benefit?]

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/09/military-psych-meds-080910/

“Psych meds spike among younger troops
By Andrew Tilghman and Brendan McGarry - Staff writers
Posted : Friday Sep 3, 2010 11:57:21 EDT
Use of psychiatric medications among people ages 18 to 34 — mostly active-duty troops and their spouses — is rising at a significantly higher rate than other age groups in the military health care system, according to data newly released to Military Times.

Overall, the number of prescriptions filled for psychiatric medications rose 42 percent from 2005 to 2009 among Tricare beneficiaries in that age group, according to data provided by Tricare Management Activity in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.

That compares to an increase of 24 percent among Tricare beneficiaries ages 45 to 64, mostly retirees. For children 17 and younger, the increase was 18 percent.”

We didn’t see the increase in this type of behavior from returning WWII vets. We are creating it to sell drugs and its gotten so out of control that the Russians are studying it as a weakness in our National Security.

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/02/10/murder-in-tampa-studied-by-russian-president-medvedev/

[Gay State Conservative]

From what I've read about this case (which,admittedly,isn't much) it would be wrong to hold this guy to blame,legally *or* morally,for his acts.Is this a damn tragic case? You betcha! But don't compound it by charging one of its victims.

[svcw]

Ok, There is something that has interested me for along time and something I do not get.
For the last 20 years or so we hear frequently about PTSD being prevalent in our soldiers.
How come our parents never heard about PTSD after WWI or WWII or Korea and not even the beginning of Nam? Nam we started hearing about it towards the end.
It’s just a curiosity.
My Dad and his brothers all served in WWII as did my fatherIL, my uncle served in Korea and early Nam, I do not remember any of them talking about this, or their friends.
So what is different now?

[gunner03]

Because it was called “shell shocked” then, and the community provided the support. Are you really surprised that it turned to s-— when the Government took control? Semper Fi

[Gator113]

I think that in those days it was called, “shell shock”.

[VietVet]

They had different terms for it: “shell shock,” “combat fatigue,” “lack of moral fiber (in the RAF)”, and so on.

And no, we didn’t talk about it much; still don’t, with those who have not shared the combat experience.

[To-Whose-Benefit?]

Its a drug deal, period.

http://psychrights.org/2011/110822VASpent717MilOnIneffectiveRisperdal.htm

And that’s what Always you get when Government takes over.

S-—, and crushing, crony capitalist expense.

[To-Whose-Benefit?]

“with those who have not shared the combat experience.”

Exactly!

The only way this generation is going to deal Effectively with what’s bothering them is the same way Previous generations have dealt with the same issues.

Goofballs with a medical degree in pushing drugs to counteract the bad effects of the last goofball’s drugs are just compounding the negatives.

[oh8eleven]

How come our parents never heard about PTSD after WWI or WWII or Korea
PTSD has existed as long as there have been wars. However, recognizing it and labeling it have usually had different results over the years.
Since WWI, it was usually defined as shell shock or combat/battle fatigue. George Patton wasn't the only one calling it cowardice and there was a hell of a stigma attached to it. That's why no one talked about it.
In 'Nam, it was evident right there on the battle field - known as the 1000 yard stare. Believe me, I know.
IMO, everyone who's been in combat suffers from it to some degree. How we dealt with it after the fact is the answer as to how we learned to cope with it.
For most, just talking about our experiences (to anyone) helped immensely. But for some, professional help was (is) required.
Personally, I think drugs are the wrong way to go.

[ImpBill]

"And no, we didn’t talk about it much; still don’t, with those who have not shared the combat experience."

And those who did talk openingly about their "war" experience, especially in bars, would always turn out to be REMF's.

Many combat vets never knew they had "it" until they retired and weren't as busy as they used to be. Many self medicated, especially with alcohol for many years.

Most trained warriors never want to believe they have weakness's especially of the mental/emotional varity.

Been there, done that, and still doing it.

Thanks for your service and welcome home brother!

[huldah1776]

It was called shell shock in WW1 from when they fought in the trenches and just bombed the h... out of each other. WW2 also had reports of it. The difference today is that there is a higher percentage of survivors? I don’t know that for sure.

Also, those who have had a traumatic experience before the war, divorce, abuse, auto accident, rape, will have a proportionately higher chance of deeper repercussions after another trauma. The wounds heal for many, but the protective scar tissue is not stronger as in a bone break.

Which also brings us to multiple tours. Those with the most experience will be asked to lead. Makes sense, but again, multiple traumas can lead to more problems. Because civilians also experience PTS there are good therapies out there, but we are talking government programs, not private top of the line psychiatry.

[huldah1776]

What would be the best way to get someone to get help. Veteran with veteran? And how do we find those who are suffering in silence?

[Little Bill]

In WW2 the Germans treated Combat Fatigue with sleep, they knocked them out with drugs, and a return of the trooper to their Units and Mates, after the battle.

I read the “The Thin Red Line” years after I returned from my Second Tour in VN, the book describes combat stress and the after battle reaction accurately.

[tired&retired]

Thanks for posting this. Josh sure needs our help.

Here is a link to the video that details Josh’s situation: http://youtu.be/Pvr8SBu0dLg

[tired&retired]

Excellent comments.

If you go to the website set up to help soldiers like Josh, there is a copy of the Army Chief of Medical
command explaining that benzodiazapines not only do not help PTSD but they make it worse!

Link here: http://saveoursoldiers.org/

It’s the April 10, 2012 memo under the PTSD Tab

[PghBaldy]

It was called “shell shocked” in earlier wars, and was somewhat common knowledge that it happened.

[svcw]

Multiple tours are an interesting thing, really.
In older wars, you were there until it was over.
Maybe that’s part of the problem, we have politicians fighting wars now, instead of military - people who actually like victory.
So as a soldier, you saw the end before and now there is no end.

[VietVet]

“What would be the best way to get someone to get help?”

We all deal with the stress and the memories differently. For example, my brother-in-law just wouldn’t talk to anyone for 20 years, until my wife brought me home to meet the family. So sometimes getting together with other vets can help, even if you don’t talk about the war (we didn’t).