PTSD CAN KILL YOU - Salem-News.Com

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - I was relieved today, July 17, 2009, to see that the Oregonian, Dr. Karen Seal of The University of California, San Francisco and The American Journal of Public Health have finally caught up with me about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and suicides. I have been writing about this upcoming PTSD catastrophe for at least 2 years.

I accidentally became an expert about PTSD and suicides when I took care of upwards of 1000 PTSD Veteran victims in the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program.

Every Combat Infantryman probably has some level of PTSD. If he (or she) is lucky it will be low level – 1, 2 or 3.

Anyone who has endured severe combat or severe psychological stress which includes ER nurses, EMT’s and surgeons and even victims of rape or other severe psychological stress will probably have some level of PTSD up to most severe levels – 8,9 and 10 (the “rubber room” basket cases).

This being said it is obvious that it is many people. The Merck Index states one percent of the population. It is certainly more than that and the current and recent U.S. wars are producing hundreds of thousands more.

Some readers may be skeptical of my figures and statements, if necessary I will explain. The Merck Index considers PTSD to be a psychiatric problem. Many pseudo-experts think telling a PTSD victim “to get over it” is a magical phrase but there is no reason to even think it may work.

You may question my statement PTSD CAN KILL YOU, too, but let’s review the statistics from the military. We currently have the highest level of suicides, druggies and alcoholics. Many PTSD Veterans are given lethal Oxycontin and equally lethal anti-depressant drugs et cetra. Even nurses and doctors who have access to these lethal drugs frequently overdose.

One of the worst factors of VA Medical Treatment of Vets are the intolerable adverse effects of the drugs they prescribe. The Vets consider these zombifying effects worse than PTSD nightmares.

Surprise, they quit VA meds and try other stuff to "self-medicate" with. This includes Heroin, Cocaine and Meth, but alcohol is the most available and common “demon killer” tranquilizer. It is too frequently lethal. I’m not even talking about tobacco. Lung Cancer probably killed more World War II Vets than anything else.

Oregon has the most successful legal Medical Marijuana program. I quickly had many Veterans. Unfortunately PTSD was NOT one of the acceptable conditions but many were also suffering from other physical acceptable conditions. I eventually ended up with possibly a thousand PTSD Vets. I also had many civilian PTSD victims.

In California PTSD is an acceptable condition for a permit. Those doctors have thousands of PTSD patients. Most have tried and quit the VA prescribed dangerous garbage.

Cannabis works for many, many PTSD patients. They have proved its success by living functional lives, and without becoming drug addicts or alcoholics in that quest.

California appears it will soon legalize marijuana. There are probably a couple of million patients who will benefit from this. Even the U.S. Govt estimates about 10 million people use it daily when they can get it.

Do you have a a question, comment, or story to share with Dr. Leveque?
Email him: Ask Dr. Leveque

More information on the history of Dr. Leveque can be found in his book, General Patton's Dogface Soldier of WWII about his own experiences "from a foxhole".
Order the book by mail by following this link: Dogface Soldier

Watch for more streaming video question and answer segments about medical marijuana with Bonnie King and Dr. Phil Leveque.

Click on this link for other articles and video segments about PTSD and medical marijuana on Salem-News.com:
Dr. Leveque INTERVIEWS & ARTICLES

Salem-News.com Marijuana Coverage

Where and How to Smoke Legal Marijuana without Fear of Arrest in the U.S.

Eulogy of a Great Warrior: Hoss Plourde

The Ripple Effect How Marijuana Laws Are Impacting Society

Audit the Audit

Welcome Home, Tom

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Dr. Leveque July 23, 2009 2:54 pm (Pacific time)

Britney: The VA prescribes a whole bunch of different kinds of drugs for PTSD but admits that they don't WORK. I have about 1000 PTSD Vets who tell me MJ WORKS. I have been given 3 anti-depressants myself which caused bad dreams and give me a next day hangover. I do use a double dose of sleeping pills which suppress nightmares. See PTSD Leveque on Google. Dr. Phil

Britney July 21, 2009 1:34 pm (Pacific time)

Is marijuana the only form on treatment you advocate?

Anonymous July 21, 2009 5:46 am (Pacific time)

and what is being done about it? NOTHING!!! And the health care plan obama is shoving down our throats will make it even worse.. I strongly urge you to view what is coming in regards to his healthcare plan.

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