How American vets become drug addicts?
Jianyu Hou Freelance writer based in Cleveland, OH, USA
_When the pain killers are not available, they'd rather buy heroin that is cheaper and highly purified than pain killers. _
"They are both opium products. Why not? I've told this trick to other vets."--Vet J W
The veterans of the United States of America deserve the highest respect for their service to the country. Sadly, a lot of them have become drug addicts after returning from the war.
J L, a hero with Purple Heart and 100% disability, who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and South Korea, has become a cocaine addict and alcoholic. He lives in a one-bedroom apartment, away from his two daughters and their mothers, spending most of his disability money on illegal drugs. His military friends have tried a lot to save him from drug abuse in vain.
J W, another hero returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, jobless, 100% disability, uses heroin frequently. He has lost contact with his ex-wife and son for many years.
Both of them fought in the U.S. Army Infantry and get mental pills from the Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) regularly. The government pays them nearly six thousand dollars per month for their disabilities. However, they are broke easily since most of the money goes to the illegal drugs. They are struggling to pay off the bills.
They are not alone. Drug abuse among U.S. veterans is a common phenomenon and contagious. According the Department of Defense research, the rate of drug abuse for veterans is 11.7%, over 2.5 times higher than the civilian rate 4.4%. It's a tragedy for the vets as well as their families.
Ironically, the illegal immigrants, some of whom bring illegal drugs and crimes across the border get better social assistance from the U.S. government than our heroes sacrificing to the country.
“It’s absurd, the things Obama thinks he can get away with… Taking money away from American war heroes, veterans who served this country bravely and proudly, and handing it over to people who aren’t even American citizens, and don’t speak our American language.” said Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
Thousands of vets have become drug addicts due to the unavailable immediate and direct help from the government and the soceity.
Shame on the U.S. government!
The bureaucratic VA
Veterans have to join a long line to get medical assistance from the VAMC after being discharged. Some died from treatment delays. Some of them killed themselves to end the agony. Others have turned to prescription pain killers from the illegal market to treat their physical and mental pain, most of which are opium products. When the pain killers are not available, they'd rather buy heroin that is cheaper and highly purified than pain killers. "They are both opium products. Why not? I've told this trick to other vets." J W justified himself. That's what he did before he got treatment from the VA. His neck and legs were seriously injured in a fight in Iraq.
** Less competitive in the job market**
Veterans usually experience several years of poverty after they finish the service. Most of them came from poor families, which means they lack the useful network and college degrees for job seeking.
More or less, veterans got physical and mental disabilities during the war that prevent them from a lot of job opportunities.
The disabilities, such as Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), may also cause high divorce rate among veterans. Some vets found they've been cheated by their spouses. Consequently, they lost family support.
The disillusion and depression worsen the drug abuse for veterans.
Ways to improve
The VA needs to improve its efficiency to help more vets in time.
The government should prioritize the vets above illegal immigrants, some of whom carry illegal drugs to poison our heroes.
The military is responsible for educating the would-be veterans about the dangers of street drugs.
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