The Case for Treating PTSD in Veterans With Medical Marijuana

[xchrom]

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/01/the-case-for-treating-ptsd-in-veterans-with-medical-marijuana/251466/



Researchers are one bureaucratic hurdle away from gaining approval for the first clinical examination on the benefits of marijuana for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), working under the auspices of the University of Arizona College of Medicine, are preparing a three-month study of combat veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The plan is on hold until the National Institute on Drug Abuse and Public Health Service (part of the Department of Health and Human Services) agrees to sell researchers the marijuana needed for research -- or until the marijuana can be legally imported. Social and political intrigue surrounding this research is far reaching, attracting opposing factions who must cede biases for the greater good and well-being of servicemen and servicewomen.

The University-controlled study Sisley advocates calls for a triple-blind and placebo-controlled environment. A meticulously prepared proposal recommends a sample base of 50 veterans, whose PTSD symptoms have not improved under current standard medical practices. All participants must agree to abstain from marijuana use for 30 days prior to participation. In two ensuing 60-day periods, the veterans are asked to either smoke or vaporize a maximum of 1.8 grams of marijuana a day (the equivalent of two marijuana cigarettes). The test group will be furnished a weekly supply of various strains of marijuana, with THC levels ranging from 0 percent to 12 percent. Sisley's study objectives are twofold. "With this research, we can actually figure out which symptoms it might help with, and what an optimal dosing strategy might look like." She is also mindful of public opinion regarding medical marijuana. "If we get a chance to do this, we're not taking liberties. This is a carefully controlled, rigorous scientific study. We're not sitting around trying to get these vets high."

If anecdotal evidence were the standard, acceptance of marijuana's calming properties among psychologically scarred soldiers would be a topic relegated to the past. Statistical evidence to support that hypothesis could be petitioned from the state of New Mexico, where medical marijuana is legally prescribed for PTSD. The state's number one diagnosis for a medical marijuana license, a noteworthy 27 percent of the total, lists PTSD as the qualifying criteria for issuance. That statistic comes as no surprise to Sisley, but she stresses circumstantial evidence is not enough to sway the wide range of government agencies she deals with. "We really believe science should supersede politics," she said. "This illness needs to be treated in a multidisciplinary way. Drugs like Zoloft and Paxil have proven entirely inadequate."

[duhneece]

1. PTSD by veterans is the largest group of new NM medical marijuana patients

but our Governor cares nothing about them. I despise that woman.

[otohara]

2. The Ability to Forget

that's how Michael Pollen describes the positive effects on PTSD patients.

[Avalux]

4. Yes, and keeps a person from obsessing over and over and over......

It's impossible to have thought obsessions when using marijuana; which is a good thing for PTSD sufferers.

[tridim]

6. It's good for creativity too.

And sleep.

[otohara]

9. Unlke Prozac Which Dries Up Emotions

and Prozac nightmares are something else.

[tridim]

3. Or just legalize it as a majority Americans want, and let people self-medicate..

As humans have done for thousands of years.

Imagine that.

[Avalux]

8. Unfortunately, it's illegal to take care of ourselves.

Instead, people pay outrageous amts. for prescription drugs that have toxic side effects and most of the time, don't even work. I have a friend who took Cymbalta for neuropathic pain and she'll never be the same. Screwed up her brain really bad.

Our society is so fucked up.

[The River]

5. No Surprise Here

Nearly ever Vietnam vet I know with PTSD has been self medicating
for 40+ years. I wasn't diagnosed until 2009 but that doesn't
mean I wasn't "taking care" of the problem ever since returning from 'Nam.

[ellisonz]

7. Legalize it. n/t

[cbrer]

10. The people debating

These issues purporting to be acting like Jesus, make my blood boil. We don't even understand PTSD yet. Any treatment that promises any hope for these poor souls is worth the effort. We have no true idea how our government is fucking up these peoples minds and lives. ANY measure of peace or relief for people who've put their asses on the line is worth it. That is the ONLY moral premise from which we may justifiably proceed.

If it wasn't morbid, and destructive, I'd be tempted to use some of these "Christians" as guniea pigs for real time research. Bastards.

[Bozvotros]

11. The hypocrisy is staggering.

I work with vets with PTSD through the VA where literally millions of vets are addicted to vicodin or oxycodone plus given large doses of Xanax or Ativan. Lots of Vietnam Vets are also put on antipsychotics like Seroquel and Zyprexa that exacerbate the diabetes they developed from agent orange exposure. This is in addition to the Zoloft, Prozac and Welbutrin most of them take. I am always amazed that some of them can function at all when I see what they are on. Most of these drugs also exacerbate the affects of alcohol which many vets lean on when their symptoms get really bad.

The fact is whether the VA ends up approving it, some vets already use marijuana and some don't. The ones that don't say it makes them more anxious or paranoid. The ones that do, almost always use it carefully and often are able to reduce their consumption of the addictive drugs they are given and report it helps improve sleep, reduce hypervigilance, makes them laugh and yes to forget for awhile too. But some docs will screen their vets for drug use and if they discover THC will cut them off their vicodin and Xanax which can be lethal to an older vet.

It is crazy as hell. Marijuana is more of an exit drug than a gateway to other drugs. It has been shown to help with anxiety, depression, mood disorders, PTSD, reduce opiate use for pain control by 50% or more, help people stop drinking and smoking cigarettes. It helps with Glaucoma, is better than Baclofen for muscle spasms in spinal cord injuries and neuromuscular diseases. It reduces agitation in brain injuries etc etc.

It is in fact a virtual panacea for the signature injuries and problems of many vets. And we hold it back. We dump neurotoxins on them and expose them to tons of pulverized depleted uranium but they can't smoke pot.

Some time ago there was a pilot program which showed promise. It involved giving vets Ecstacy and then giving them intensive trauma processing therapy for their PTSD. It seemed to sharply reduce their symptoms and more trials were promised but I haven't heard anything else. I suspect this will go the same way.

We are also losing thousands of vets to lung cancer and COPD. The VA will provide them lots of Chantix, Zyban and nicotine replacement products which have about a 4% success rate, but not electronic cigarettes, despite the fact that thousands of people are using them successfully to quit or cut down. VA employees have been told specifically to not recommend or encourage e cigarettes.The rationale is that e cigs have not been studied enough and "might be dangerous."

The pharmaceutical companies make gazillions from Medicare, Medicaid and the VA. They are not going to let people have some little weed that anyone can grow or a bunch of mom and pop internet e cigarette companies cut into their profits. Not as long as they can buy Congress or the executive branch. Count on it.

[RainDog]

12. please x post in drug policy n/t

[RainDog]

13. k&r n/t