ABC News has a new series called “Coming Home: Soldiers and Drugs” that is worth checking out. ABC reporters have interviewed dozens of solders at Fort Carson, Colorado about issues of drug use and dependency.
The article follows several individuals who were under battle stress in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait and turned to drugs for relief. The military’s response has varied from treatment to jail time to dishonorable discharges.
The U. S. Army has denied that soldiers coming home from battle are facing drug problems in increasing numbers. Hospitals and drug counseling centers near Fort Carson are saying different as they have seen dramatic increases of soldiers seeking help.
2 responses to “ABC’s Series Coming Home: Soldiers and Drugs”
There is something fundamental about military and drugs. You need to alter your mental state to reach a point where you’d be willing to face real bullets for abstract concepts like nationalism and patriotism. I’m not saying those concepts are anything wrong, but when the bullets start flying the best heroes run for cover. You’d need some way of pushing them to extremes!
Also, vets who face bullets and buddies being injured or killed, come home with PTSD and other psychological and emotional ailments. Some will turn to drugs and alcohol in order to try and cope. These services need to be readily available to those coming home from battle.