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Sunday, August 31, 2008

PTSD on Trial: Treat the wounded and stop sending them to jail

Man wants to start alternative court program for war veterans
BY KATE WARD Northwest Arkansas Times

Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2008


As a multiple combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, John Bennett has seen the need for post-war treatment first-hand.

"We spend thousands of dollars each year to train these guys to go overseas and fight a war," he said. "Then we bring them back and do very little to integrate them back into society. Some begin self-medicating because of what they've experienced. Their drinking often turns to drug use, which leads to crime."

Bennett hopes to divert troubled vets from the traditional justice system by establishing a court program tailored to their needs. In addition to rehabilitation and treatment, the program would provide vets with the tools needed to lead productive and law-abiding lives through rehabilitative programming, reinforcement and judicial monitoring.

"They stood up for us in war and we need to stand up for them when they return," he said. "Throwing them in jail doesn't help anyone."

A 2007 report conducted by the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors reveals a sizable fraction of service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD ). About 12 to 20 percent of those returning from Iraq, and about 6 to 11 percent of those returning from Afghanistan, suffer from some degree of PTSD. To date, 52, 375 returnees have been seen in Veteran's Affairs hospitals for PTSD symptoms.

"It's very traumatic, mentally," said Steve Gray, veteran affairs coordinator for Rep. John Boozman's office. "The battle mind that keeps them alive and safe over there is what gets them in trouble here."
go here for more
http://nwanews.com/nwat/News/68643/

2 comments:

  1. This is something you need to see...Get them home!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc88J_g01pM

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