Did a little reading up on prescription drug use in Iraq. Here's one article
Rushed back to the front . There are quite a few articles dealing with PTSD and the use of drugs to counteract it. So far, I haven't found percentages of Soldiers/Marines who are taking antidepressants/sleep aids/ and other drugs while in Iraq, but the indication is that the number is growing. From the article,
Although top military officials have denied that antidepressants are in widespread use in Iraq, a recent Pentagon survey found that 12 percent of soldiers - nearly one in eight - are taking prescribed medications for mental health or sleep problems.
Also from the article
...Combat doctors' complaints about the lack of drugs to treat patients like Virgadamo led to the prescribing of Prozac and similar medications to soldiers in Iraq after 2004.
If Delano Holmes was taking a mixture of Ambien, a sleep medication; Trazodone, an antidepressant; and Valium, which is often used to treat anxiety disorders, there is no telling what this cocktail mixture would do to a person in combat. Add the sentry duty with an Iraqi soldier, language barrier, the whole 9 yards, his reaction to this situation would be affected.
The fact that his medical records are missing is quite curious and telling. I'd say the defense atty's focus on the military's handling of Holme's mental status in Iraq is quite appropriate. The military has some explaining to do.
Thanks for that, Girl. bighead’s nephew is in a similar situation. Doped to the gills, deprived of sleep, and then second guessed from a comfy remove.
And guys like Del and Evan are coping with PTSD on their inside a brig.
It really is disgraceful. bighead got his congressman to write SECDEF Gates a letter of enquiry. I sent a copy to Del’s family. I hope they can do likewise.