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Doctors Alarmed by Military’s Use of Mind Drugs on Troops

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Medical professionals have expressed serious concerns about the U.S. military’s

dispensing of antipsychotic drugs to combat soldiers and other personnel.

 

The U.S. Central Command allows, under its drug formulary, for troops struggling

from sleep deprivation to receive a 6-month supply of Seroquel, which was first

developed to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, mania and depression. At

least two U.S. Marines have died in their sleep after taking large amounts of

the medication.

 

Dr. Grace , a former Navy psychiatrist, left the service “out of

conscience, because I did not want to be a pill pusher,” she told Nextgov.

believes psychotropic drugs are “destroying the force.” She is

especially concerned about the anticonvulsive drug Depakote, which military

doctors prescribe for mood control. Depakote can cause “cognitive toxicity,”

impaired ability to think and make decisions.

 

Another expert, Dr. Breggin, told the House Veterans Affairs Committee

last year that combat soldiers should not be given psychotic drugs, because they

can cause loss of judgment and self-control and lead to increased violence and

suicidal impulses.

 

According to a June 2010 report by the Defense Department's Pharmacoeconomic

Center at Fort Sam Houston, 20% of active-duty troops were taking prescribed

psychotropic drugs, including antidepressants, antipsychotics and sedative

hypnotics.

-Noel Brinkerhoff, Wallechinsky

 

Military's Drug Policy Threatens Troops' Health, Doctors Say (by Bob Brewin,

Nextgov)

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