I saw an advertisement for Wounded Warriors begging for donations so that these veterans get what they need and they earned. It made me angry. Don't get me wrong -- the vets who gave so much deserve all the best. My question is this: Why in the greatest country on earth is a vet denigrated to having to beg for services? Shameful it is that the United States of America, who took the best that these men have to offer and then, turn its back to them.
Their needs which for the most part, despite all the noise we make about service provisions, go unserved. And if the vet has any difficulties with mental illness or substance abuse, they are gotten rid of by the services lickety split. Many of these people despite some difficulties make great soldiers because they can do what the average will not: fight and fight to the death.
How many of us could watch our friends blown to bits, or horribly disfigured by brain damage, loss of limbs and go on to act normally? NOT a one. This kind of trauma does NOT leave you - but rather, good therapy helps a serviceman learn to make it liveable. Is it any wonder the serviceman turns to drugs or alcohol in order to deaden the pain? I think not.
What as a country are we doing: criminalizing a person with a substance abuse problem. We tell them: "Just do not use or drink, do fun things, and you will be alright." It's not true. Substance dependence is a disease and it needs treatment - not just a 30 day stint in treatment, but on going. And family members need to be a part of the process.
And though studies replicate findings indicating when a serviceman has other traumas in their lives it complicates their recovery from the horrors of war. We spend billions ineffectively because it does not met the client where they're at and help to lift them up, restore hope, and address the substance dependence effectively.
We as a country are missing the boat when it comes to honoring these young people who have given so much!
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