AUSTIN STATESMAN – UNCOUNTED CASUALTIES: IRAQ VETS: HOME, BUT NOT SAFE

Scores of recent Texas war veterans have died of overdoses, suicide and vehicle crashes, investigation finds

1 jwj Dead Veterans day1 drugs[1]

Daniel Pilgrim, 12 , and his grandparents Randy and Judy Pilgrim visit the grave of Daniel’s father, Lance.

10 jwj Dead Veterans day1 drugs[1]

Kimberly Mitchell weeps at the grave of her husband, Chad Mitchell, who died of an accidental prescription drug overdose.

The Austin Statesman ran an incredibly well done & way overdue article today on what is happening to our veterans!!! True investigative reporting – something I thought had died an untimely death in this country! Thank you Austin Stateman!

For the past 20 years I have directed the International Coalition for Drug Awareness, www.drugawareness.org, to track these cases because so many are directly related to the massive use of antidepressants by our military. We have many cases documented in a database put together by our Texas Director which you can find at www.SSRIstories.com

Suicide, homicide, alcoholism & REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

These drugs are being given to a population generally within the age group (under 25) who the FDA has warned has double the chance of suicide if they take an antidepressant. They are dying in their sleep due to interactions between antidepressants & pain killers, or becoming alcoholic as antidepressants produce overwhelming cravings for alcohol. We have been seeing far too many veterans come home & commit murder/suicide on these drugs, or commit mass murders. Many remain unaware that antidepressants have not just suicidal ideation as an increased side effect, but also homicidal ideation. Ideation is constant ruminating thoughts or almost a compulsion … so these are increased compulsions or thoughts that will not be quieted about either killing themselves or others or both. They are even more dangerous for veterans because of the fact that 86% of those diagnosed with REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, where you act out nightmares in a sleepwalk state – some driving many miles to kill others, are those taking antidepressants. Anyone knows that someone recently returning from war is going to have nightmares worse than most. The problems due to meds are absolutely staggering.

Eric Harris unqualified for military service due to antidepressant use

All of this is absolutely insane when you see the changes in policy from just over a decade ago when anyone on one of these drugs would be turned away from the military because they did not want someone on a mind altering drug (especially those that can produce suicide, homicide & paranoia) carrying a gun in a war situation. The use of an antidepressant is why Eric Harris, one of the Columbine shooters, was turned down by the military in 1999. Seeing the extreme dangers can be made obvious in the case of Sgt. John Michael Russel of Sherman while having a toxic reaction to his antidepressant opened fire at a mental health clinic in Iraq killing 5 fellow soldiers. And as more comes out in similar cases we will see these drugs were involved in them as well.

Stan White, a father with a mission

Stan White is a father who has been fighting to get the truth out about what these drugs are doing to our troops. He lost one son in combat & the other to a medication interaction after he returned home. I would hope that families contact him & join together to put an end to this nightmare. You are welcome to find him as one of my friends on Facebook if you cannot find him otherwise.

www.statesman.com/news/news/local-military/texas-war-veteran-deaths-studied/nSPJs/

To read a more extensive report on this problem following are the follow-up stories in the Austin Statesman:

Loved ones cope with veterans’ suicides

Uncounted Casualties: Part II

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Prescription drug abuse, overdoses haunt veterans seeking relief from physical, mental pain

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Which veterans are at highest risk for suicide?

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Suicide among veterans receiving less attention than active-duty deaths

Many family members noticed dramatic changes in their loved ones after they returned from the war and before committing suicide.

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After returning home, many veterans get into motor vehicle accidents

Some say risky driving is related to their time spent overseas.

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About the Author: Ann Blake-Tracy is the author of PROZAC: PANACEA OR PANDORA?, and the director of the International Coalition For Drug Awareness [www.drugawareness.org]. She has testified before the FDA and testifies as an expert in legal cases involving serotonergic medications.

Ann Blake Tracy, Executive Director,

International Coalition for Drug Awareness
www.drugawareness.org & www.SSRIstories.com
Author: “Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? – Our Serotonin Nightmare – The Complete Truth of the Full Impact of Antidepressants Upon Us & Our World” & Safe Withdrawal CD “Help! I Can’t Get Off My Antidepressant!”

BOOK: Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? – Our Serotonin Nightmare! Anything you ever wanted to know about antidepressants is there along with everything drug companies hope you never find out about these drugs. SAFE WITHDRAWAL CD “Help! I Can’t Get Off My Antidepressant!” on how to safely withdraw from antidepressants & most psychiatric medications is saving lives! Available at www.drugawareness.org

BOOK TESTIMONIALS:

“VERY BOLD AND INFORMATIVE”

“PRICELESS INFORMATION THAT IS GIVING ME BACK TO ME”

“THE ABSOLUTE BEST REFERENCE FOR ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS”

“WELL DOCUMENTED & SCIENTIFICALLY RESEARCHED”

“I was stunned at the amount of research Ann Blake-Tracy has done on this subject. Few researchers go to as much trouble aggressively gathering information on the adverse reactions of Prozac, Zoloft and other SSRIs.”

WITHDRAWAL HELP CD TESTIMONIALS:

“Ann, I just wanted to let you know from the bottom of my heart how grateful I am God placed you in my life. I am now down to less than 2 mg on my Cymbalta and I have never felt better. I am finally getting my life back. I can feel again and colors have never been brighter. Thanks for all that you do!!” … Amber Weber

“Used your method of weaning off of SSRI’s and applied it to Ambien. Took 6 months but had been on 15 mg for years so what was another 6 months. I have been sleeping without it for 2 weeks and it is the first time I have been able to sleep drug free for 15 years. What a relief to be able to lay down and sleep when I need or want to. Ambien may be necessary for people at times but doctors giving a months worth of it at a time with unlimited refills is a prescription for disaster. It is so damn easy to become dependent on. Thanks for your council Ann.”… Mark Hill

“I’m so thankful for Ann Blake-Tracy and all her work. Also for taking the time out to talk to me and educate everyone! She has been a blessing to me during this awful time of antidepressant hell!” … Antoinette Beck

 

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