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August 17, 2010 - The significant increase in military suicides have been all over the news in the last few months. Many theories have been put out as to why the military suicides have been rising. Some advocates for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) believe there are 2 reasons for the increase:
Dr. Peter R. Breggin is a psychiatrist practicing in Ithaca, N.Y. He is of the opinion that psychiatrists often prescribe drugs in hopes they will cure the soldiers' PTSD. The problems arise, according to Breggin, when the drugs are prescribed without a solid understanding of how the drugs work.
2008 saw the Army meet an unfortunate milestone. The Army had a suicide rate of 20.2 soldiers per 100,000. Comparably, according to the Department of Defense (DoD), the civilian suicide rate has stayed steady at 18 per 100,000.
Breggin addressed a crowd which included members from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) among others at the 2010 PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury Education and Awareness Conference. He explained PTSD is a natural reaction in the brain to extreme stress and traumatizing experiences, and maintains there is no drug able that can improve the brain's function. He further explained psychiatric drugs alter chemical balances in the brain and may end up affecting the user in ways no different than street drugs.
Breggin also maintains that side effects of psychiatric drugs include both violent behavior, attempted suicide, and the inability to maintain a clear thought process. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, it is estimated that over 6,000 veterans will take their own lives this year. This number is completely unacceptable.
Soldiers can return home with a number of conditions, injuries, and aggravated preexisting conditions. If you believe you have a service-connected physical or psychological injury you may be entitled to Veterans’ Disability Compensation.
At LaVan and Neidenberg, we are determined to secure veterans their rightful disability compensation and disability rating. We wrote this book for you! In it you will find valuable tips on how to navigate the claims process and avoid common pitfalls. Request your FREE copy today!
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