Stop Prescribing Anti-Psychotics to Vets Unnecessarily
- by: Care2.com
- recipient: Australian Government
An Australian soldier returned from deployment with severe PTSD. When the nightmares became too much, he was prescribed Seroquel to help sleep. But this drug isn't a sleep aid; it's a powerful anti-psychotic usually used to treat bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
One night, the soldier accidentally took too much and didn't wake up for more than 24 hours. This scary episode was too close to tragedy for the government to continue to stand idly by.
Prescriptions of Seroquel for veterans with PTSD has jumped more than 600 percent in the last five years. Often, soldiers get the drug without any psychological counseling, compounding the poor choice of drug. Now, psychologists are questioning the system.
We owe our troops the highest level of care possibly. Sending them home with anti-psychotics is not that. Demand the government investigate and improve mental health treatment for veterans.
Dear [Decision Maker],
I was appalled to hear that the prescription of anti-psychotics to veterans suffering from PTSD has increased 600% in the last five years. Often, this is done without any counseling. That is not the quality of health care that these men and women deserve.
Some psychologists have expressed concern about this practice. I think it's time for the government to step in to make sure that all vets get the highest quality of care we can provide.
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