Antidepressant Use Soars Among Deployed Troops

[4dsc]

This doesn't look good,,

For the first time in history, a sizable and growing number of U.S. combat troops are taking daily doses of antidepressants to calm nerves strained by repeated and lengthy tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a report in Time Magazine.

In its June 16 cover story, the magazine reports that the medicines are intended not only to help troops keep their cool but also to enable the already strapped Army to preserve its most precious resource: soldiers on the front lines.

Citing the Army’s fifth Mental Health Advisory Team report, using an anonymous survey of U.S. troops taken last fall, Time wrote that about 12 percent of combat troops in Iraq and 17 percent of those in Afghanistan are taking prescription antidepressants or sleeping pills to help them cope.

http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,169685,00.html?ESRC=dod.nl

[bluerum]

1. That's a big duuhh.

[SpiralHawk]

2. Just say no

To drugs

and

To the republicon homelander oil-profits crusade, based as it is upon a documented web of lies and deliberately misleading propaganda (the drug of corporate news & diversion).

[sarge43]

3. Water is wet. Film at eleven.

Soldiers have always been chemically coping with the horror show whether it be booze, dope or whatever else is available. This is just a new wrinkle.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. Consider this

Almost all antidepressants - which don't work, anyway - come with a warning to stop usage and see a doctor if you have suicidal thoughts. How many of these kids (and I used the terms advisedly, I know) stop taking this crap abruptly - always a big no-no - and then get suicidal?

I don't think the high suicide rates are accidental here.

[juno jones]

6. Not to mention the addiction rates

From what I'm reading lately, SSRI's are as hard to kick as heroin. They stimulate the pleasure centers of the brain like heroin or cocaine, and as such are hard to stop taking once one become acclimated.

If you haven't looked into it check out 'Tardive dyskinisia'. Whole lotta things out there worse than a heroin habit. Heroin doesn't cause painful and disfiguring muscle spasms. Permanently.

[bdamomma]

5. and you have reports like this coming out.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3360327