Thursday, January 27, 2011

A Third Of Wounded U.S. Soldiers Are Addicted To Drugs

Photo: Traumatic: U.S. soldiers help a wounded comrade after they were struck by an IED in Afghanistan (file photo).

Up To 35% Of Wounded Soldiers Addicted To Drugs -- USA Today

Medical officials estimate that 25% to 35% of about 10,000 ailing soldiers assigned to special wounded-care companies or battalions are addicted or dependent on drugs — particularly prescription narcotic pain relievers, according to an Army inspector general's report made public Tuesday.

The report also found that these formations known as Warrior Transition Units — created after reports detailed poorly managed care at Walter Reed Army Hospital— have become costly way stations where ill, injured or wounded soldiers can wait more than a year for a medical discharge.

Read more ....

More News On This Growing Addiction Problem

Report: 1/3 of warrior-unit soldiers addicted -- UPI
Problems in Army’s Trauma Units -- New York Times
Report: Many Wounded Army Soldiers Are Drug-Dependent -- Kasllink.com
Drug Addictions Affecting Wounded Soldiers -- EMaxHealth

My Comment: Only 35%? I expected the percentage to be much higher.

2 comments:

Mark said...

well, they don´t count prescription drug addiction as drug addiction

War News Updates Editor said...

True .... I should have "dependent on".