U.S. troops in Iraq taking drugs to cope with stress, trauma
Steve Hammons
June 30, 2006
The allegations against members of a U.S. Marine unit, after Iraqi men, women and children in the town of Haditha were killed, have brought renewed attention to the issues of combat stress and mental health involving American military forces.
Part of the examination of these issues are new reports that large numbers of U.S. troops in Iraq are reportedly being given antidepressant, anti-anxiety and sleep medications.
The use of these drugs may be related to the fact that many military personnel are being redeployed to Iraq for the second or third time, sometimes with several types of mental health disorders.
These mental and emotional issues are often due to the severe stress and traumatic experiences they have faced in combat operations.
In addition to psychotropic drugs, most troops are given the anti-malaria drug Lariam, which is known to cause severe psychiatric problems including suicidal and homicidal behavior.
The use of amphetamines by U.S. troops has been rumored. In some circumstances, the military does issue "stay awake" drugs.
Like the scourge of methamphetamine use in the U.S. population, military personnel taking amphetamines risk impaired judgment, psychotic reactions, paranoia and homicidal behavior.
TROUBLED TROOPS
According to a Newsweek cover story in the June 12 edition, the wife of a staff sergeant in the Marine unit accused of murdering unarmed Iraqi men, women and children in Haditha said the unit had experienced a "total breakdown" in discipline and morale after returning from Fallujah in early 2005.
"There were problems in Kilo Company with drugs, alcohol, hazing, you name it. I think it´s more than possible that these guys were totally tweaked out on speed or something when they shot those civilians in Haditha," she was quoted as saying.
Although large numbers of troops have sought counseling and have been diagnosed with mental health problems stemming from combat, many others may not seek help.
The number of military personnel who have avoided diagnosis, counseling and treatment is not known.
In addition, military medical personnel may be under pressure to avoid diagnosing troops with PTSD and other mental health disorders so the Army soldiers and Marines can be redeployed back to war zones.
In a published article last month, "The Iraq War – On Drugs," writer Terry Allen reported, "The issues around mental health and medication are exacerbated for the more than 378,000 troops who have served multiple tours to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) caused by a previous tour are cropping up in later ones. Sometimes sleeping pills, antidepressants and tranquilizers are prescribed by qualified personnel. Sometimes not."
Three months ago, San Diego Union-Tribune military reporter Rick Rogers explored the situation in his article "Some troops headed back to Iraq are mentally ill."
Rogers wrote that "medical officers for the Army and Marine Corps acknowledge that medicated service members – and those suffering combat-induced psychological problems – are returning to war.
And anecdotal evidence, bolstered by the government's own studies, suggest that the number could be significant."
According to Rogers´ report, "Buttressing the idea that large numbers of service members are medicated, more than 200,000 prescriptions for the most common types of antidepressants were written in the past 14 months for service members and their families, said Sydney Hickey, a spokeswoman for the National Military Family Association.
These drugs are used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, some personality disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder."
COMBAT IN CONTEXT
Other factors cited for increasing stress on U.S. troops include the nature of the battle. Insurgents operate from stealth and attack Americans unexpectedly, often with roadside bombs. In many cases, U.S. personnel cannot immediately retaliate.
The nature of the roadside bombs may create additional psychological trauma in other ways. More damaging than most bullets, these powerful bombs do tremendous damage to the human body. Feet, hands, arms and legs are blown off. Faces and heads are blown away. Protective vests only cover the torso.
Helmets do not protect the neck and face, and shrapnel coming up from roadside bombs can penetrate under the helmet.
In addition, as the war continues to go on year after year, troops may see only limited significant victories and progress that would indicate they are succeeding, completing their mission and going home to loved ones.
Despite their determination to be successful and accomplish their missions, U.S. military personnel in Iraq surely learn that support for the war at home continues to steadily decrease, as does the public approval of the politicians who planned and approved the invasion of Iraq.
Our troops may wonder, like the rest of us, if one day soon they will be pulled out and we will leave Iraq to the Iraqis. Or, will U.S. forces be there for years and years to come, establishing a permanent base of operations in the region?
All of these factors, and many others, may create additional stress and complex problems for our forces in Iraq, for those who are recuperating in hospitals at home and for the discharged veterans with serious physical, psychological and emotional challenges.
Medications may temporarily help our troops cope enough to return to Iraq and continue combat operations. Drugs may put a chemical band-aid on our damaged vets. But drugs are not the answer the big questions about the Iraq War.
Our troops deserve more than drugs and an unreasonable operational tempo sending them back into combat indefinitely.
Can they rely on the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, politicians and the American people to help them, back them up and get them home? That, too, is a complex problem.
AUTHOR NOTE TO READERS: Please visit my Joint Recon Study Group blog.
Part of the examination of these issues are new reports that large numbers of U.S. troops in Iraq are reportedly being given antidepressant, anti-anxiety and sleep medications.
The use of these drugs may be related to the fact that many military personnel are being redeployed to Iraq for the second or third time, sometimes with several types of mental health disorders.
These mental and emotional issues are often due to the severe stress and traumatic experiences they have faced in combat operations.
In addition to psychotropic drugs, most troops are given the anti-malaria drug Lariam, which is known to cause severe psychiatric problems including suicidal and homicidal behavior.
The use of amphetamines by U.S. troops has been rumored. In some circumstances, the military does issue "stay awake" drugs.
Like the scourge of methamphetamine use in the U.S. population, military personnel taking amphetamines risk impaired judgment, psychotic reactions, paranoia and homicidal behavior.
TROUBLED TROOPS
According to a Newsweek cover story in the June 12 edition, the wife of a staff sergeant in the Marine unit accused of murdering unarmed Iraqi men, women and children in Haditha said the unit had experienced a "total breakdown" in discipline and morale after returning from Fallujah in early 2005.
"There were problems in Kilo Company with drugs, alcohol, hazing, you name it. I think it´s more than possible that these guys were totally tweaked out on speed or something when they shot those civilians in Haditha," she was quoted as saying.
Although large numbers of troops have sought counseling and have been diagnosed with mental health problems stemming from combat, many others may not seek help.
The number of military personnel who have avoided diagnosis, counseling and treatment is not known.
In addition, military medical personnel may be under pressure to avoid diagnosing troops with PTSD and other mental health disorders so the Army soldiers and Marines can be redeployed back to war zones.
In a published article last month, "The Iraq War – On Drugs," writer Terry Allen reported, "The issues around mental health and medication are exacerbated for the more than 378,000 troops who have served multiple tours to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) caused by a previous tour are cropping up in later ones. Sometimes sleeping pills, antidepressants and tranquilizers are prescribed by qualified personnel. Sometimes not."
Three months ago, San Diego Union-Tribune military reporter Rick Rogers explored the situation in his article "Some troops headed back to Iraq are mentally ill."
Rogers wrote that "medical officers for the Army and Marine Corps acknowledge that medicated service members – and those suffering combat-induced psychological problems – are returning to war.
And anecdotal evidence, bolstered by the government's own studies, suggest that the number could be significant."
According to Rogers´ report, "Buttressing the idea that large numbers of service members are medicated, more than 200,000 prescriptions for the most common types of antidepressants were written in the past 14 months for service members and their families, said Sydney Hickey, a spokeswoman for the National Military Family Association.
These drugs are used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, some personality disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder."
COMBAT IN CONTEXT
Other factors cited for increasing stress on U.S. troops include the nature of the battle. Insurgents operate from stealth and attack Americans unexpectedly, often with roadside bombs. In many cases, U.S. personnel cannot immediately retaliate.
The nature of the roadside bombs may create additional psychological trauma in other ways. More damaging than most bullets, these powerful bombs do tremendous damage to the human body. Feet, hands, arms and legs are blown off. Faces and heads are blown away. Protective vests only cover the torso.
Helmets do not protect the neck and face, and shrapnel coming up from roadside bombs can penetrate under the helmet.
In addition, as the war continues to go on year after year, troops may see only limited significant victories and progress that would indicate they are succeeding, completing their mission and going home to loved ones.
Despite their determination to be successful and accomplish their missions, U.S. military personnel in Iraq surely learn that support for the war at home continues to steadily decrease, as does the public approval of the politicians who planned and approved the invasion of Iraq.
Our troops may wonder, like the rest of us, if one day soon they will be pulled out and we will leave Iraq to the Iraqis. Or, will U.S. forces be there for years and years to come, establishing a permanent base of operations in the region?
All of these factors, and many others, may create additional stress and complex problems for our forces in Iraq, for those who are recuperating in hospitals at home and for the discharged veterans with serious physical, psychological and emotional challenges.
Medications may temporarily help our troops cope enough to return to Iraq and continue combat operations. Drugs may put a chemical band-aid on our damaged vets. But drugs are not the answer the big questions about the Iraq War.
Our troops deserve more than drugs and an unreasonable operational tempo sending them back into combat indefinitely.
Can they rely on the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, politicians and the American people to help them, back them up and get them home? That, too, is a complex problem.
AUTHOR NOTE TO READERS: Please visit my Joint Recon Study Group blog.
Print
Email
