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Thomas Dworetzky, Contributing Reporter | March 23, 2016
A study on
the VA website notes that pot use is climbing among vets. "The percentage of veterans in VA with PTSD and substance use disorder who were diagnosed with cannabis use disorder increased from 13 percent in fiscal year 2002 to 22.7 percent in FY 2014. As of FY 2014, there are more than 40,000 veterans with PTSD and SUD seen in VA diagnosed with cannabis use disorder.
Pot use can lead to problems, however, at work, in social situations, and with sleeping for vets, according to the agency.
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"Marijuana may initially provide some relief," but for those with PTSD, "it's very hard to stop it once you start it," according to Dr. Karen Drexler, the VA's deputy national mental health program director for addictive disorders. "It gets into this vicious cycle."
Not everyone agrees with that, however.
"I started really engaging in therapy every week and started being really honest with myself and getting over things," said Whiter, who added Zoloft to his pot use. "I can't push enough that therapy is very key in this. It's not just weed."
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