PENTAGON HOOKED VIETNAM SOLDIERS ON AMPHETAMINES, PAINKILLERS, STEROIDS Published: April 8, 2016 at 11:12 pm
Washington, DC (Sputnik) – The US military pushed drugs on troops ‘like candy,’ contributing to astronomical rates of post-service substance abuse, PTSD, and homelessness while also factoring into many of the war’s worst atrocities.
New research has led historians to consider America’s war in Vietnam as the first “pharmacological war,” with the level of psychoactive substances distributed to military personnel reaching unprecedented, nearly ubiquitous levels. Today, many of the country’s Vietnam-era veterans struggle with addiction, more so than from any preceding war, leading to calls for the government to take steps to right a wrong.
Despite the lack of research at the time on the implications of long-term amphetamine use, “pep pills” were routinely distributed to men leaving for long-range reconnaissance ambush missions. Standard Army use was 20 mg of dextroamphetamine, an amphetamine derivative twice as strong as common ADHD medicine Adderall, to provide 48 hours of combat readiness. However, reports find that the abuse of amphetamines was rampant and often demanded by superior officers.
One veteran said doses of amphetamine were issued to soldiers “like candies,” with no regard to recommended amounts or frequency of administration. Some research existed during the Vietnam era thanks to research by the House Select Committee on Crime which revealed that, between 1966-1969, 225 million tablets of the buffered amphetamines were distributed to soldiers.
One Vietnam-era soldier, Elton Manzione, said that the drugs “gave you a sense of bravado as well as keeping you awake. Every sight and sound was heightened. You were wired into it all and at times you felt really invulnerable.”
Not only was amphetamine use ubiquitous during the Vietnam War, but the US military knowingly pushed opioids on soldiers. Troops infiltrating Laos for a four-day mission each received a “medical kit” containing 12 tablets of Darvon (an opiate), 24 tablets of codeine (an opiate) and six tablets of dextroamphetamine. Furthermore, members of the special forces were administered regular steroid injections prior to long and demanding expeditions.
Research shows that while 3.2 percent of soldiers arriving in Vietnam categorized themselves as heavy amphetamine users, after one year of deployment the rate increased 62.5% — although the researchers expect that the real figure was much higher since the methodology required self-reporting by troops, the Atlantic reported.
The US military’s pushing of narcotics not only exacerbated the struggles of troops coming home, but likely played a significant role in driving otherwise honorable soldiers to commit war crimes and atrocities. Some troops have reported severe irritation as a side effect once amphetamines wore off to the point that they said they “felt like shooting children in the streets.”
Finally, the use of pharmaceuticals has been found by researchers to have contributed further to PTSD experienced by Vietnam War soldiers upon returning home. While the pharmaceuticals led to a reduction in combat stress breakdowns by soldiers requiring a medical evacuation in comparison to similar combat situations, the rate of subsequent PTSD among Vietnam-era troops was astronomical. It is estimated that some 1.5 million Vietnam-era troops continue to suffer from PTSD.
Currently, there are estimated to be over 50,000 homeless Vietnam-era veterans. Those veterans have an 108% higher likelihood of substance abuse compared to the baseline civilian population.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
PENTAGON HOOKED VIETNAM SOLDIERS ON AMPHETAMINES, PAINKILLERS, STEROIDS
I usually just ignore Bumbler's insane posts. Because a few of us on this board are Vietnam Veterans, I decided to actually read this post.
Of course it's total Bull$hit, (as we expected) but it does have some value as a teaching tool to show you just who Bumbler accepts as the TRUTH.
Bumbler's source for this piece is "SPUTNIK". And Who is SPUTNIK???? Sputnik is an international multimedia service launched on 10 November 2014 by Rossiya Segodnya, an agency wholly owned and operated by the Russian government.
Yea, bumbler will ignore anything that comes out our mainstream media while he takes as GOSPEL TRUTH FROM GOD, some lame story from the RUSSIAN GOVT. (No surprise there)
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
From The Atlantic - in publication for 158 years. Based out of Washington DC.
Quoted Text
The Drugs That Built a Super Soldier
During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military plied its servicemen with speed, steroids, and painkillers to help them handle extended combat.
Since World War II, little research had determined whether amphetamine had a positive impact on soldiers’ performance, yet the American military readily supplied its troops in Vietnam with speed. “Pep pills” were usually distributed to men leaving for long-range reconnaissance missions and ambushes. The standard army instruction (20 milligrams of dextroamphetamine for 48 hours of combat readiness) was rarely followed; doses of amphetamine were issued, as one veteran put it, “like candies,” with no attention given to recommended dose or frequency of administration. In 1971, a report by the House Select Committee on Crime revealed that from 1966 to 1969, the armed forces had used 225 million tablets of stimulants, mostly Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine), an amphetamine derivative that is nearly twice as strong as the Benzedrine used in the Second World War. The annual consumption of Dexedrine per person was 21.1 pills in the navy, 17.5 in the air force, and 13.8 in the army
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
The government also brought them Agent Orange to flavor their meals.
uh yup!!! those kids were cia experiments. sadly....it still goes on today.
raise that flag, sing the star spangle banner, put your hand over your heart and pledge your allegiance to old glory, get out and vote in a rigged system, register as dem/rep, watch and get your facts from the lame stream media.......brainwashed idiots
just keep that war machine going and pay you extorted taxes.....idiots
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Now parents give amphetamines to their children. In 50 years we'll be finding out the damage that did to millions of people.
won't take 50 years. TODAY.........most mass shootings are done by 'kids' on government issued mind altering drugs.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
And the source for the Atlantic's story as stated in your link???
Quoted Text
"This article has been adapted from Lukasz Kamienski’s book, Shooting Up: A Short History of Drugs and War"
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
And the source for the Atlantic's story as stated in your link???
Quoted Text
The source is: Lukasz Kamienski
Lukasz Kamienski is a lecturer in political science at the Institute of American Studies and Polish Diaspora at Jagiellonian University, Poland. He is the author of Shooting Up
Quoted Text
International partnerships
In 1990, a formal exchange agreement was created between the Jagiellonian University and the University at Buffalo (UB) in the State University of New York system, in the U.S. State of New York.The two universities, however, had a long-standing partnership prior to that time.[9] In 1993, the two universities expanded their agreement to include additional joint programmes for students, faculty, and staff. In 1995, UB President Bill Greiner received the Medal Merentibus, the highest honour issued by the Jagiellonian University, for his efforts in broadening the educational partnership between both institutions. Greiner was awarded the Medal by Jagiellonian University Rector Alexander Koj for his personal support, initiative, and assistance in developing cooperative programmes between the two universities.
There is also a partnership agreement with Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
So Box, is your problem with the journalist that was published by Sputnik? He was published by The Atlantic too. The author of the article is also a lecturer at a University that has a partnership with the State University of New York system.
What's your problem with the source again? Does Lukasz Kamienski secretly work for the Russian Government like you suggested in your first post on this thread?
So Box, is your problem with the journalist that was published by Sputnik? He was published by The Atlantic too. The author of the article is also a lecturer at a University that has a partnership with the State University of New York system.
What's your problem with the source again? Does Lukasz Kamienski secretly work for the Russian Government like you suggested in your first post on this thread?
Lukasz Kamienski wrote a book. And now that book is in the promotion stage, where he gets as much press as possible to sell the book.
So lets look at the actual text in your post.
Quoted Text
The US military pushed drugs on troops ‘like candy,’
WOW! Like candy! Sounds like everyone had pocket fulls of drugs who served in Vietnam. So look further:
Quoted Text
“pep pills” were routinely distributed to men leaving for long-range reconnaissance ambush missions."
Again, sounds pretty wide spread doesn't it.
How many troops were on "LONG RANGE RECONNAISSANCE MISSIONS"??? Your piece doesn't say. (My guess, less than 1/2% if that)
To continue with your deception:
Quoted Text
Troops infiltrating Laos for a four-day mission each received a “medical kit” containing 12 tablets of Darvon (an opiate), 24 tablets of codeine (an opiate) and six tablets of dextroamphetamine.
Troops entering Laos? Special Forces Troops? Again, if true, it's a handful of 'SPECIAL FORCES", not a large number of US Troops.
In EVERY US Navy Corpsman's medical pouch were several doses of MORPHINE, also an OPIATE. The drug had a use by date so they were often replaced as that date was passed. If 10 corpsmen each had a bag with 10 doses of the drug, and that drug was NEVER USED, but replaced three or four times in a 13 month tour... THAT WOULD MEAN 300 TO 400 SHOTS OF MORPHINE WERE REPLACED IN VIETNAM, EVEN THOUGH NONE WERE EVER USED. Someone wanting to write a book about drug use in Vietnam could source those "replacement doses" as if they were used by US Troops and conclude (wrongfully) that US troops had a morphine problem.
Quoted Text
NOTE: Today the reccomended shelf life of Morphine is 6 weeks if protected from heat and light. In a Corpsman's Unit 1 bag, there was no way to "protect from heat and light." so I would assume that it was replaced much more often than 6 weeks.
Want more? How about this one... "RESEARCH SHOWS"... Who's research, they didn't say, but as long as it helps sell a book, it is useful.
Quoted Text
Research shows that while 3.2 percent of soldiers arriving in Vietnam categorized themselves as heavy amphetamine users, after one year of deployment the rate increased 62.5%
Are we to believe that 62% of US Troops were HEAVY AMPHETAMINE USERS???? So at a veterans reunion we would find at least 6 out of 10 to be dopeheads??? In my limited knowledge knowing around 100 Vietnam vets over the years, I know of none. Not one. Strange when 62% were not just 'users' but 'heavy users', you'd expect at least one or two would have had some problem. ~ If ya wanna sell books, ya gotta find something sensational to sell. ~
Just briefly scanning through your text I find the terms: "New research" "reports find" "One veteran said" "One Vietnam-era soldier said" "Some troops have reported
Sounds like what Bumbler uses when he posts something he overheard at the Donut Shop!
YOUR piece then goes on to suggest this heavy drug use 62% by your link, led to increased PTSD among Vietnam Vets. Why then is the rate of PTSD higher among Iraq and Afghanistan vets, or are US Troops still drugged at the rate of 62% in those wars too???
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Do you believe The Atlantic published an article about facts presented in a book that were not factual? The editor of The Atlantic didn't make sure the facts were footnoted by the author to back up the facts?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Do you believe The Atlantic published an article about facts presented in a book that were not factual? The editor of The Atlantic didn't make sure the facts were footnoted by the author to back up the facts?
I assume they printed what the author sent them.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Logged
