Newsweek: How VA Fueled The National Opioid Crisis And Is Killing Thousands Of Veterans
Art Levine just published a hard-hitting piece on continued problems veterans face in combating the opioid crisis and addiction fueled by VA.
His piece highlights some background and quotes from me and whistleblower Brandon Coleman amongst other advocates. Be sure to check it out, in addition to Levine’s recently published book, Mental Health, Inc.
Relevant sections from the piece citing comments from me follow.
My critique about President Trump keeping Shulkin, which de facto meant Trump would not be draining the swamp, at least in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Senior executives abiding by “the code” keep secrets quiet while law-abiding employees cower in fear of retaliation:
To some VA critics, Trump’s selection of Shulkin to head the agency makes it unlikely that significant changes will be made. “For veterans who voted for Donald Trump, this is going to feel like a bait and switch,” says Benjamin Krause, founder of DisabledVeterans.org. “Keeping Shulkin will keep a host of flunkies and criminals who should have been part of the whole ‘drain the swamp’ promise.” (His own reputation as an ethically pure reformer was undercut by The Washington Post report in late September that he billed the government for his wife’s travel during a 10-day business jaunt that also included side-trips to the Wimbledon finals and a visit to Copenhagen’s “Little Mermaid” statue; these expenses were somehow approved by the VA’s ethics team but are now under investigation by the department’s Inspector General.)
The fetid VA swamp has been spreading for years under the last three VA secretaries, including Shulkin. It’s an institution long notorious for vicious retaliation against whistleblowers and a penchant for falsehoods, obfuscation and delay, as well as rampant cover-ups of unsafe and sometimes deadly conditions—or even fraud—by the VA’s watchdog agencies. This is all kept from view by what some longtime employees call “the code”—the institutional silence and protection offered wrongdoers. Likening it to the mob’s “omertà,” one high-ranking VA administrator, who insisted on anonymity, tells Newsweek, “You don’t break ‘the code,’ or your career is over…. It’s a fearful environment.
“The code,” that VA official says, “is designed to do this: don’t fix the problems.”
Whistleblower retaliation is still allowed because VA has failed to hold anyone truly accountable for their actions:
All told, nearly 2,000 VA whistleblowers were forced in fiscal year 2016 alone to appeal to an independent federal agency, the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), to protest retaliation while reporting fraud or unsafe conditions—more than the next four problematic federal departments combined. As The Boston Globe reported in September, these employee complaints included nursing home residents at the Bedford, Massachusetts, Veterans Affairs Medical Center allegedly being starved of food for hours or left to lie naked in bed amid the squalor of soiled sheets.
Shulkin has established a new office given a mandate to protect whistleblowers, but that hasn’t yet halted the retaliation. “I don’t know of a single instance when a VA employee has been held accountable for harassing whistleblowers,” says Krause.
This turf-protecting has perhaps been most apparent in the VA’s belated response to the national opiate crisis it helped usher in. The VA doesn’t even keep an accurate count of how many veterans have died of legal or illegal drug overdoses, even though it officially launched an Opioid Safety Initiative in 2013 that has brought the VA’s opiate prescribing down 30 percent. Nor does it regularly monitor opiate use by its patients who seek legal or illegal drugs outside the VA.
Be sure to check out the Newsweek piece – – and share the heck out of it on social media to show the magazine we notice and support when reports do a great job highlighting our plight.
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/2017/10/20/va-fueled-opioid-crisis-killing-veterans-681552.html
This evening’s “60 Minutes” uncovered how not only did Pig Big Pharma KNOW they were igniting an opioid crisis and consequently, a heroin epidemic, BUT CONGRESS KNEW…the Congress Critters all have their ratty claws in the Pig Pharma’s panties and ass…the DEA KNEW…sounding like one organized American “Final Solution” for Vets and anyone else that’s considered a DRAIN on society…this was so disgusting it ignited my anxiety this evening….now to wrestle my cat for the vaporizer.
Much better now…
Even better now…
Fuck Off Big Pig Pharma!! Am thinking ‘^0 Minutes” episode may make Isaacson fly-off the Stairmaster this A.M. at the congressional critter romper-room.
Those phucks KNEW and kept raking-in the dough…and Obama ,enabled the escalation with a hush-hush signing of handing the henhouse to the foxes at big pig pharma.
Cat, give me that….
Much better again…
Veteran affairs is one step lower than a terrorist organization. only reason they haven’t considered going full jihad is the media news outlets has figured out there is no money on taking news on what veterans go through on a life to life bases within the VA, especially with opiates. failed drug war means failed policy which gives veterans the run around or the rope around the neck … gives American doctors impunity
veteran affairs can cover up any story that hits the mainstream about any veterans life situation. if the truth came out on why vets were truly killing themselves, no one would give a fuck to take action. it already has …its sad but true.
the only thing Americans pay attention to anymore , more violence.i fought for peace now the Americans civilians are handing it over for more televised violence to drug us up with opiates .. the American government gives a veteran no choice but to commit to violence from taking away veterans reform by giving them a challenge by baiting us with compensation and and a stalling period.
, . do u know how much add and fucking paste there is when it comes to editing a veterans life story on any national televised business . people just tune out or change the channel to more fucking violence.
.ratings go down whether a vet is doing good or bad. that’s just business . vets need to start commencing second civil war. think about it, do u know how fast our appeals process would be if the news cast a group of veteran shooters every 30 minutes across the nation the people would just give up and blame the government.American civilians would go after politicians why veterans are in groups killing people in America. American politicians would have no choice but to bag up or shut the vA down.
VA would have to shutdown and have to create a new system. it needs to happen.one day there will be a armed veteran faction no US swat team can take down
there will be veteran splinter cells in America , wait and watch and see how fast every news media sponsor wants to get a hold of u if your apart of an organization that has been messed around by the American government.
VA pray that we over dose on opium puts more money in employees pockets through insurance policies …
America wants American veterans dead . the American bureaucracy believes that veterans are second hand individuals that don’t need benefits . that is what is coming down too.
all the actions of the American establishment has revealed it ,yet says they are trying to help which even creates a bias of how they are trying to destroy the American veteran or keep them dependent among the government by using 2 faced doctors with pharmaceutical sponsors or fiduciary programs.
American’s really don’t give a fuck about vets. just proves in action that veterans are not justifiable allocations by a false democracy. american democracy is a puppet and its strings are guided by false judgement of the world richest nothing more.
p.s have u called the veteran crisis line today…sad 60minute and 42 second wait while representatives use um’s to fill in words from complete sentences.
Since today’s blog is in reference to the “opioid scandal”. And we’re talking about drugs, I ran across this just now.
From;
“The Next News Network”
Gary Frenchi reporting.
Dated: Oct 15, 2017 (05:33 minutes long)
Titled:
“PHARMACIST BREAKS SILENCE, REVEALS DRUGS HE’S BEEN DELIVERING TO CONGRESS!”
“Mike” the owner of the “oldest pharmacy in Washington D.C.”, “Grubs Pharmacy” speaks out! After which, he reverses his statement!
Want a laugh? Y’all gotta watch this video!
@Crazy elf – – – I recently heard about this pharmacy that delivered medications to Congress members. A nice perk for our loving Politicians. You can bet that the Doctors that treat them aren’t going through what regular citizens are facing. – – – Nutter.
Yea, Nutter,
Congress spares no expense on their healthcare. Why should they? There’s is paid for by the taxpayer’s monies!
Hey elf, I wouldn’t mind about Congress having their meds delivered so they don’t have to be inconvenienced by going to the Pharmacy, only if they were doing their job, and not stalling on important issues that they should be addressing for the benefit of taxpayers. Plus, I bet you that the Doctors don’t pressure DC’s Politicians to taper off of pain meds like the VA is doing (hypocrites).
And, since the VA is requiring Vets to taper off of pain meds, but to only be prescribed SNRI’s and SSRI’s, and doing so by what is called, OFF SCRIPT.
OFF SCRIPT = Not FDA Approved. VA pukes (Drs.) prescribe these meds based off of only what is reported from others how these meds work to POSSIBLY reduce pain, spasms, PTSD symptoms. They do this WITHOUT DOUBLE BLIND RESEARCH. Research done before a drug can be approved by the FDA to treat for the relief of certain ailments.
But yet, I had a less invasive surgery by Laser Spine Institute (LSI) for the debilitating condition of sciatic pain, which ran from my right buttock down to my toes. Incision was less than an inch.
The operation was 100% successful. No pain. LSI paid for 3 days in a hotel room for my wife, Service Dog, and me. Plus, LSI paid for all meals. Afterwards, LSI waived all medical fees for their services. Corporate did this because we asked them for it, and all they wanted was a recommendation.
VA Pain Management Specialist, didn’t even want to know about LSI because most of their procedures weren’t FDA approved. If I had more issues, I’d go back to LSI instead of VA or most others performing a more invasive procedure, say like a 4-6 in. incision.
VA will use OFF SCRIPTS even though not FDA approved, but VA will not accept LSI’s services that aren’t FDA approved as well. VA uses this tactic for their own benefit not ours.
I pointed this out to VA Rep, that got pissed off at me at first. But then, when I called shot because of VA’s behavior, and letting her know that according to her degree that she wasn’t practicing pragmatic science and research behavior, she shut up, and then later agreed with me.
Other Vets should be aware of these manipulative tactics of the VA. This behavior makes the VA data look good for when asking for more monies. IMO (In My Opinion). – – – Nutter.
Plus, VA hasn’t admitted that there is a pre-epidemic of addiction per the use of SSRI’s and SNRI’s. There has been some Physicians that’re already talking about this future problem.
Per the VA admitting this, are you kidding. If VA admits to something, that means that it could possibly put a wrench in their plan of having Veterans being addicted to other medications as well. A WHEELOF FUNTUNE for PIG PHARMA, and for VA’s database, at the expense of the lives of Veterans.
And, so what if the VA messes up, their not accountable. Basically then, VA can deliver medical services as long as they’re not committing murder. Those Veterans that aren’t intimidated by the VA’s Disruptive Behavior Committee and EPERS List, have been speaking out loudly, and still the VA continues on with their Non-FDA approved treatment modalities.
What VA needs to do is this, is to let Veterans treat their pain, and PTSD symptoms, with MMJ or their own Cannabis that they’ve cultivated themselves. I told the VA, that since I’m not getting relief from the symptoms that I have, that I’m forced into treating myself, along with what services that I deem beneficial from the VA.
VA has failed me in the past, and lets be real here, time isn’t on our side anymore. – – – Nutter.
OOOO No…….. they wouldn’t do that
Full Document: Unclassified “https://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/news/200”
Thanks for NOTHING! The numbers behind this latest attack and stigmatization of true Chronic Pain sufferers do not add up. If someone dies of a HEROIN OD that is NOT a Legal Prescription, although it’s counted as such to justify this crack down/movement to FORCE PAIN SUFFERERS TO JUST SUICIDE! Which we are ALREADY SEEING out here in the REAL WORLD.
Yeah, VA employs some should have had their licenses pulled or better yet never issued to begin with, but not every Md/MBBS is a lazy flake. Some of us have gone through in my case 9 years of trying EVERY RECOMMENDED TREATMENT for our chronic pain, not matter it’s source, BEFORE we had to admit that the ONLY THING that worked AT ALL were full narcotic opiates. And if you happen to be in the 20% of the population that has one of the alternate CYP-450 enzyme pathway, most of those wont work, or wont work properly either.
Thanks a bunch, YOU are now KILLING PEOPLE and with the latest BS that the VA is planning on using on EVERYONE no matter the individual treatment history, a LOT of the people you are going to have KILLED are going to be VETERANS… A LOT more will die at their OWN HAND than are dying from ODing on legal HEROIN! Or dying from actual really are Schedule 2 or below narcotics that mysteriously were prescribed to be bought of the STREET!
Hope you like going to FUNERALS.
Any questions or better yet GUILT I suggest you check with ANY of the organizations that represent/derive their membership from CHRONIC PAIN VICTIMS so you can do something other than get your name in print…
Josie Klapper
Pain News Network ([email protected]
https://www.drugpolicy.org/news
The stigma of opiate use is born from several thousand years of men observing what happens to their peers who begin using opiates for any reason. The stigma is owed in part to the change in behavior that is inevitable once a person like myself becomes dependent upon opiate.
What society sees is not a pain patient, but somebody who suddenly shifts all activities to center around the next dose of opiate. Society sees folks argue until the sun goes down and the lights go out that morphine is the only saving grace for a livable life in an otherwise untolerable human existance and society sees folks who behave that way.
I can spot a fellow opiate addict who is still using in the rare moments they show up to the apartment swimming pool. Inevitably they nealry ALWAYS bring up their ailments to all within earshot at the pool, they rarely if ever actually swim or excersize for enjoyment, and they are always angling with argument for more opiate; opiate users are VERY quick to offer up argument about how devastatingly painful their own condition is and it seems to me they do this to bounce their arguments off of neighbors in prep for what they will tell the doctor. Opiate patients NEVER ask the doc to reduce the dosage and ALWAYS accept/ask eventually for prescriptions for higher dosage.
It is these things played out over thousands of years that has stigmatized opiate use and nothing else. Dead opiate users (and we ALL die from it via liver cancer if we do not stop) do not stigmatize at all. It is the folks using opiate who present themselves as a group undergoing uniquely terrible life circumstances who cause the stigma in part because the argument presumes the most absurd notion that only a select few among us endure the true pain of life. I know about pain worthy of opiate and it comes with a bones that are shattered lengthwise, broken ribs, punctured lungs, and internal bleeding.
When this is the immediate diagnosis then trust me the doctors have no problem prescribing the stuff which frankly even then could not stop the screaming. It hurt. Now it doesn’t but it hurt getting to this point of walking without crutches and if I had been on morphine continuously I doubt I ever would have tried.
My only comment to this one is, prior to the new “guidelines” on Opioid use, I never heard anyone tout there pain or there need for medications. Hardly ever. But now that we have been lumped in with back ally Heroin users, most feel they must defend themselves. No disrespect Sir, but I will bet you would never know I was a pain med. patient if we met. You might know I have a spine issue due to my posture. Outside these forums, I do not complain about my pain or my meds. I know how people get sick of hearing someone complain about “hurting” all the time. I try my best not to burdon others with my problems. Noone really cares anyway. Much respect Dennis. And, Thank You For Your Service!!
Ben I have described you as a true American, along with other veterans that have posted on this site. I am so proud of all of you. We can not stop and I hope all of you are taking advantage of all the news reports concerning the VA and post on their sites on facebook your true feelings about how you feel about the VA.
Thanks Ben and others. Keep up the good work. Ben for Secretary of the VA !!!!
and the rest of you as advisors or investigators. Then the VA and veterans will have a chance.
These people are assisting in veterans suicide or kill them outright. Veterans should be very weary of the va and question everything they do to you. Since the doctors or other nurses will not check to see what the medications can do when mixed its up to you to find out what they can do to you.
Put once you find out and speak out beware the VA just may claim you are being disruptive and then punish you, How dare you question the VA. We will fix you, all you veterans are faxing and are malingers.
time for the RICO law to come into effect and these employees called out. and arrested.
@Seymore Klearly or Others to Chime In – – – Under the VHA Pain Management Strategy (before VA took action per recognizing the current Opioid Epidemic);
3.OBJECTIVES: The overall objective of this policy is to prevent suffering from pain in persons using the veterans healthcare system. The specific objectives of this policy are to;
-Provide a system-wide VHA standard of care for pain management that will reduce suffering from preventable pain.
-Assure that pain assessment is performed in a consistent manner.
-*Assure that pain treatment is prompt and appropriate.
-*Include patients and families as active participants in pain management.
-*Provide for continual monitoring and improvement in outcomes of pain treatment.
-*Provide for an interdisciplinary, multi-modal approach to pain management.
-*Assure that clinicians practicing in the VA healthcare system are adequately prepared to assess and manage pain effectively.
Remember the names of VA Providers that I listed for you in the past? Those involved in treating my pain, violated 5 out of 7 (see *) objectives under the VHA Pain Management Strategy.
I realize that these objectives may have changed due to the VA’s new enlightenment, and understanding in curtailing the current Opioid Epidemic, but before restructuring, I was basically left out of the loop per my pain management which contributed to the condition that I’m in now.
It is quite possible that the VA Medical Providers weren’t even qualified to treat any Veterans pain. Every where I turn, I find inconsistencies. Any comments? Thanks. – – – Nutter.
ANUTTERVET, I guess I have been lucky. Like I said earlier, My doc. was great. He listened to me, WE worked together on my treatment plan. After 12 years of Hydrocodone increases, we met, discussed my condition, discussed OUR options, then he prescribed Oxycodone. BAM, I am getting the relief I once was with the other meds. I, and everyone at Carl Vinson VAMC, know how professional, compassionate, and caring Dr. Moti was. He ha dbeen there for over 35 years. Ha CARED about his Veterans, as he called us. My issues are intractable pain from a severely deteriorating spine, and most other joints. Prior to VA, I has Fusion C6-C7. Last year after he did MRI, I was sent rather quickly to NON VA in Augusta, Ga. where they put a 7 in. Titanium plate and numerous screws due to my spine had crumbled to the point of piercing the spinal sac and pressing spinal cord, in several areas. All doctors I have seen since my accident in 1992, agree that it has and will continue to get worse and worse till I am crippled up. I think I am entitled to medications that allow me to have some type of LIFE! While they still work. Cause there will come a day where nothing will work. I know I was lucky to have a doc. like Moti in the VA. My brother in law has RSD among other issues and his doc is a pure idiot. He
has to fight for any treatment he gets. So you are correct, mostly, in that the VA doesn’t understand or monitor pain patients properly.
Oh sorry did I forget to say nurse bill assaulted vet female patients and was removed but still out there. Brown billy lurking. Freak
No sorry, WTF r u talkin bout? How does this help others when no mention of the physical presence or whereabouts of cartoonish characters of u mind? Make it real, pls shake item on shoulders. dank u. – – – Nutter.
So sorry i forgot nurse bill the butt blowhard. They have pics of this head up someone’s azz wherever he goes. Now that’s azz fedish for sure. But first he asks em drink dis, so I’m not called brown billy sucks fo nuttin.
Oh you will bust up at this one removal VBA CO very first one top of accountability list for list. Job title SUBJect MATTEr Specialist. LMAO. Too nuts for society’s comprehension. Next will be removal of Willie the wank off, Let me show you how all goes for veterans. Sally suck it still there. Lmao
Well, I don’t know about other places. BUT, in Dublin, Ga. VA they check the Ga. State website every month to make sure I am not getting Opioids outside. There just may be vets that got the pain meds. when not needed. But this whole Opioid Crisis is just plain BULL SHIT> All it is doing is hurting the patients all over America, Like myself, that suffer from Intractable pain. They say opioids, when studies have shown that LESS than 1% of deaths are due to Prescription medications. The rest are from street drugs like Heroin and Fentanyl, that are comeing from China through Mexico. I am Sick of hearing all these people talking about something they know NOTHING about. There are Americans dieing of Cancer and doctors and pharmacists are tking pain meds away for FEAR of prosecution. Their are ,any pain sufferers that are FORCED by our govt. to look to the streets for RELIEF!! This whole LIE is harming WAYYYY more people that they are helping or protecting. How about some PERSONAL RESPONSABILITY???!!! My meds help and I take them as prescribed. But these Holier than Thou Assholes want to lump me, and Millions of other pain patients, in with some street JUNKIE. If you wish to report about Opioids, how about reporting BOTH SIDES!! Noone is talking to pain patients or Pain Management Doctors.
I was prescribed 180 mg./ day morphine and 40 mg./ day hydrocodone, 2 mg. / day clonazepam, and a LITANY of other drugs to counter the side effects. This puts me on BOTH sides lol. I no longer use those in favor of highly purified marijuana extracts.
VA happily prescribed all those pills. I happily ate them down. That means of course I understand the night terrors as you drift off to sleep – a well known symptom of hard core heroin users (opiate users). It also means I needed laxative, then a water pill, a potassium pill because the water pill depletes potassium, then a nausea pill because all those made me nauseas, then an anti-depressent because of high opiate doses, then after a few months getting strung out – anti psychotic drugs because I had begun hallucinating. By that time VA had been prescribing drugs exceeding 1500 mg total per day and three of those were schedular drugs. My teeth were rotting from the sugar binging and my waist grew as fast as my ass.
Now I get up. I vape some fine marijuanna extract. I walk to coffee and home. I live a food life and not ONE milligram of prescription drug passes my lips. You will be happy to know I poop easily now, go to sleep now without starting up in terror, and am engaged in life as a participant and not a spectator. I hurt because I lived through my younger days but not by much, but I do not care. I am fit for a man with metal holding him together inside, and I enjoy life.
Two perspectives from one patient.
I have similar experience to dennis. everything he says here is true. just to add that alot of pain comes from retention of fluid in tissue which damages nerves, causing the pain, tissue necrosis, loss of use. cannabis extract (high thc) mixes with oil and can be applied to the skin. that oil will draw the water out of tissue. you can see it with your own eyes; the water will pool & puddle on the skin surface. the compounds in high-thc, whole-bud extract will also regenerate nerves and tissue damaged by the water and lack of blood flow to the tissue.
Did you just stop taking all those meds at once? You must of couldn’t even think, due to all those pharmaceuticals the VA was trying to kill you with. – – – Nutter.
Stopping those meds was beyond unpleasant. The opiate withdrawl symptoms abate in a few days. However the massive doses of drugs like Cymbalta, Gabapentin, Welbutrin, and others tooks MONTHS to adjust to. It was hardcore unpleasant to say the least. It felt like being run over by a truck but worse was the itching. My skin crawled underneath when just those three drugs alone in combo added up to more than 1400 milligrams per day total. It is a special kind of torment really but having crawled up out of a wheelchair the past few years and finally shed the crutches too told me that hanging on one moment at a time would see me through. IT TOOK MONTHS.
The all body itching and severe emptional backlash has stopped and I have a life back. VA is a horrific experience if you go into it trusting the doctors there. Do so at great peril.
I’ve not known the VA to properly monitor me while on pain meds. This is not only unprofessional, but its not wise due to how powerful, and easy one can slip into unconsciousness.
Plus, VA has never after prescribing a pain med, called me to ask; how’s the med overall working for you, how has the med effected your symptoms, how are you tolerating the med, does the medication work until your next scheduled dose, and not one VA Physician or Team Nurse has ever called me by phone after the med was prescribed to me. VA staph aren’t thoroughly detailed in obtaining critical feedback from their patient. Until this day, this has concerned me.
And, the same even occurs during a tapering process. No check-up calls, nothing. Only Medical Orders to do this, or we’re going to that, etc.. You’d think that the VA wouldn’t be as sloppy.
I’ve also brought up to my VA PCP and Clinical Pharmacologist, that SNRI’s and SSRI’s has been reported to be addictive. They’ve balked at me about them not being addictive. And they wonder why we have all these compounding trust issues with the VA. And, trust plays a BIG role in anyone’s medical care. – – – Nutter.
Dennis, I have smoked weed for over 45 years. It has never helped my pain. I know people that it does. And That Is Great. It doesn’t me. I stopped 2 years ago when I failed a VA drug screen. Doc said one more and I lose pain meds till I go “Through The Program”. Wasn’t worth it for me. This is just a perfect example of how everyone reacts differently to pain meds, or for that matter Any Medication. I cjurrently take 30mg. Morphine 3Xdaily, 10mg. Oxycodone 3Xdaily, and 350mg. Soma 2X daily. Most days I am able to get out and have a life. Yet they want to take that from me because some “Rich Kid” got in Mommy’s bottle and took something that he had no idea about and got hooked or died. I am sorry for t6hat kid. But that was and ALWAYS will be HIS fault, NOT MINE. Now my , wait for it, GREAT VA Doctor, retired last week. I have no idea whom I will get now. But could be one of those self righteous, ANTI Opioid docs. Thyen where does that leave me??? Like so many others, it leaves me to find alternatives for my pain mgt. Side note. My doctor was one of the most compassionate, and caring doctors I have ever seen in the VA. Took me 10 years and 4 other IDIOTS to finally get to him. He had been there so long, that no one argued with his treatment program. I was lucky to have had him. VA doesn’t have many that even give a damn about a VET. Dr. Moti sure did. I am so very glad that Cannibus helps you and does what you need it to do. I wish it did for me!! I would gladly go that route. Respectfully, Old Hippy.
@R. Michael Maddox – – – Evidence / Experience Based Medicine’s (EBM) segments of what makes up this medical treatment protocol, along with current Patient Care Standards, miss these important points; not focusing on the patients difference of response to EBM’s treatments, and not focusing on, to directly treat a patients symptom(s).
I’ve said all along, that the VA misses the mark BIG TIME when treating a patient that doesn’t respond to normal treatment protocols or standards. And the sad thing is, if something has worked for a patient in the past, and the VA doesn’t support the treatment, the Veteran is shit out of proper relief to hopefully function as much in society as possible, or enough to take care of one’s self. I understand what you’re expressing.
Note- If you haven’t been told yet, Carisoprodol (Soma) is a controversial muscle relaxer. Created back in the 50’s, I’ve found this medication to be very helpful in relieving many of my symptoms. VA don’t care.
Soma dramatically helped me with painful muscle spasms, residual low-end pain, eased anxiety slightly, and really helped with the musculoskeletal tension migraine-like headaches that I experience. VA would rather put me through more Trial-n-Error Testing to find another medication that MAY work, or give me a cocktail of drugs instead of one, or just let me suffer without prescribing Soma’s.
I was on Soma’s for almost 10 years before having to go to the VA for medical. The first med VA took away from me, and not prescribe, you guessed it, Soma. Rat Bastards.
** Questions; One local VA here is the corrupted VA Medical Center at Philadelphia. Where is your VA located? How long has VA been prescribing Carisoprodol (Soma) to you? Thanks. – – – Nutter.
@R. Michael Maddox – – – Have you tried CBD as well? Comes all forms like THC. – – – Nutter.
@Nutter; I get my care at the Carl Vinson VAMC in Dublin,Ga. I was first prescribed Soma by the VA back in 2002. It was Non Formulary at the time. So it had to go before the “Panel”, where it was approved by a 2 to 1 vote. The WITCH that was head of pharmacy at the time had a FIT. I had to fight her for everything I got, until her retirement. I’m sure you know that it IS Formulary now. I don’t have any problem with it now. I wish my other pain meds were as easy to get. No I haven’t tried the CBD. Like I told earlier, I had smoked weed for 40 + years until the VA started drug testing. I popped pos. for THC about 3 years ago and my doc said better be clean next time. I have been. I wish pot helped with my pain, I would give up the Opioids quick. But pot has never worked for pain. Except maybe for sleep. Do me a favor and call me. I want to talk to you about something. number id 912-523-5216. worth ur time
Yes some vets sold. But all forget articles over 300 grand missing from vA emt truck. Pharmacy’s no inventory stash in closets during inspection. The list goes on. I’m sure all that large quantities were for personal use. Drs being realessed for stealing durug. Ssshhh you got to go.
Opioid Epidemic – Max Kaiser of the financial news program, “Kaiser Report” on RT. Another perspective and interesting read with information not shared by others.
“https://www.maxkeiser.com/2017/07/the-real-cause-of-the-opioid-epidemic-scarcity-of-jobs-and-positive-social-roles/”
If I hear about the Russians coming, I’ll let you folks know. OK? – – – Nutter.
I’ve been researching the main reasons that caused the current Opiate (and Opioid synthetic) Epidemic. Without listing all my reference findings, there’s a clear and reasonable understanding, that the VA has played a major role in creating this National disaster per with Veterans, and possible illicit sales by Veterans of such medications.
My research focus is to locate ANY information pertaining to the VA having any knowledge about the pre-Epidemic indicators, and doing nothing in diverting the current full blown epidemic. And, so far, the VA isn’t looking favorable as to not knowing the increase in the numbers of prescriptions that were issued to Veterans by the VA’s medical staph.
It’s interesting in what one can find by digging deep into the world of PIG Pharma, PIG Gubmint, and the behavior of the PIGGIER VA. – – – Nutter.
how do you know there is an ‘opioid epidemic’??
because the VA says so? because newsweek says so?
where is the evidence of this latest tragedy that they have to take drastic action for?
why do so many veterans seem brain dead, unable to process information?
there is no epidemic. just more theatre for the gullible masses.
Dirty science. I have distrust of the VA like other Vets do. Can’t ignore the research done by others outside the VA, nor were they funded by such. Every thing isn’t a conspiracy. I guess you’ll say the same when researchers declare an epidemic due to highly prescribing antipsychotics too. Geez. – – – Nutter.
@Sepp – – – I’m not pro- stop all pain med prescribing. I’m for proper monitoring and rotation of pain medications. Plus, I’m not impressed with SNRI’s, SSRI’s, etc. for treating pain. Each person is different, and response to treatment will vary. I’m trying to understand this because it effects me too. Put blame for overprescribing right at the gate keeper’s doorstep; able bodied by lazy physicians for not doing their research about medications. – – – Nutter.
@sepp
I do not know if there is an epidemic for sure, but there is a way to find out and this way is open to you sir as well. This is one route taken by those reporting to verify what is happening in the US.
Submit a FOIA request to the US Food and Drug Administration requesting all shipment data accounting for all opiates distributed through all channels regulated by FDA.
I have seen numbers for just a tiny slice of America from a resourceful journalist who used this approach. The numbers are staggering and you simply would not believe the sheer number of pills being dispensed and accounted for. Computers that count individual pills at FDA provide a roadmap of manufacturers, distributors, points of sale, doctors, and so forth.
Want to know what kind of money is involved in legal trafficking of the white death? FDA has it all in comma seperated values format. They have the names too of those who make all this money.
Follow the money and you will find the trail leads to some folks who also share your opinion that no problem exists…
Dennis, I highly respect what you write. The sheer number of pills does not mean epidemic spreading. The only epidemic is ignorance and refusal to see the forest for all the trees. This is a created crisis. Another one. Judge Young stated in 1971 that cannabis was the most beneficial plant known to mankind. It was then placed on the Schedule 1 list with heroin, etc. And for all these years, the fools bought the lie. Supported it full blast. They used the lie to completely redefine healing, medicine, doctors, compounds, everything was changed in the US formulary upon the decision to outlaw cannabis in favor of drugs. Anyone who supports the drug system, whether you’re a NUTTER who recommends talking with your doctor about the flu shot, to the doctors who dispense the death, they’re all in on it. de facto conspiracy everywhere and the plant is the cure. Blessings be. PS, how can we prove the numbers from the fda are correct? they can say anything they want, we have no way to verify.
OK Sepp, you’re the one pushing propaganda about me. And, what’s wrong with talking to your doctor about a flu shot? What no questions? BS thinking. And, I’m for MMJ, you assume way too much. – – – Nutter.
you said talk to your doctor about the flu shot.
that’s not propaganda, that’s the truth.
ask your doctor how injecting mercury will help you avoid the flu.
ask why the package insert states that it’s never been proven to stop the flu.
once you ask those questions, you won’t be asking anymore, you will get kicked out, placed on a watch list, and maybe worse, who knows.
MMJ is another racket. we just need a plant and people who know about it, that’s all.
Hey Sepp, I’m not disagreeing with you. I’m saying everyone responds to different treatments, and what they seek is their choice. Just because someone may disagree with you, doesn’t mean that they are wrong for doing so. I know individuals that don’t respond well with marijuana treatments.
And, when having a scientific discussion, all aspects are put on the table. I’m not recommending anything. To each his own. And, as an Investigative Research Biologist, I’ve been a strong supporter of marijuana. Plus, it is a known fact, that the US is regulated by laws. You want to change the laws, go for it. I’m all for it.
I’ll even cheer you on; “Go Sepp go. Change them there marijuana laws so that we can cultivate our own plants. Me, I like short thick bushed 20-80 (Indica/Sativa) Hybrid plants. I’d be Good 2 Go, and wouldn’t have to rely, on the trapping of the US PIG Pharma’s grasp of depending on them for treatment.
And, I’ve tested positive many times for not being treated by past and current Pain Management Practices. There’re even failing me with the revised protocols of treating pain.
Pain treatment isn’t a one size fits all. So, by just talking with your Physician about anything medically, doesn’t mean that you agree with their treatment modality. You need to know where the other party is coming from to sometimes discover the best benefits of both sides.
And no, the Medical Providers don’t know everything. I’m able to have bowel movements w/o taking the nerve and tissue damaging laxatives. Damn Bro, give me some credit. Not that I need it for validation.
As a scientist, think how I feel when a VA PCP, who prescribes power pain medications, is very sloppy in knowledge of what they’re prescribing. And, reading what others have posted, this happens quite often in the VA network of Pain Management.
Plus, I personally don’t give a shit if I’m on a fucking list (Disruptive Behavior, EPERS, etc.), while others quiver in fear at the mention of them. What’re they going to do? Lock my wife, and Service Dog up too. Not even close Bro, I’ll be shooting hot metal. Take care. – – – Nutter.
Ben time to ban this lowlife troll. His name is that of a SS coward general jailed by this country for war crimes. Judging by his comments he’s holds American military lives in the same regard.
@AvengingAngel – – – You hit it the nail on the head. I sometimes try to reason with some people, only to find out that they’re just plain unreasonable, nor are they understanding. I’d rather deal with K9’s. Felt this way for decades. And, I know that I’m not the only one who feels this way. Keep posting. – – – Nutter.
“Delay, Deny, Hope You Die” features interviews with politicians, doctors and sick soldiers as well as never-before-seen footage and secret documents. This new documentary exposes the truth behind an important issue currently being ignored by the mainstream media.
Several Clips at:
Delay, Deny, Hope You Die – documentary trailer – YouTube
“https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6TE0fLWOto”
DELAY, DENY, HOPE YOU DIE – How America Poisoned Its Soldiers – SNEAK PREVIEW (7 min.)
“https://vimeo.com/221387789”
Rt will air the full documentary on October 18
Seymore,
I googled those videos you posted. There’s many other videos also.
On the first one you put on here, there’s something I noticed. That is: “No comments were posted by anyone!”
So, what I did was put “disabledveterans.org” on each one I viewed! And asked anyone seeing the videos, to come here!
This “website”, in my opinion, needs more viewers!
This whole thing was created by Congress with the help of Big Pharma.
Sorry to be so late with these three articles out from “military.com/daily news”
1.)
Titled;
“Retirees, VA Disabilty Recipients to Get Biggest Pay Raise Since 2012”
13 Oct 2017
“military.com” | by Jim Abshor
We’re receiving “2%” in 2018.
_______________________
2.)
Titled;
“BRAC for VA: Lawmakers Seek to Reduce Number of VA Facilities”
13 Oct 2017
“Stars and Stripes” | by Nikki Wentling
Don’t hold your breath!
__________________
3.)
Titled;
“VA, Congress Crawls Toward Ending Abuse of Vet Pensioners”
Posted by: Tom Philpott Oct 12, 2017
Y’all might want to read this article – closely!
@Dennis – – – We’re weighing our options about relocating to Oregon. We need some assistance in pinning down excellent Oregon locations to possibly relocate.
Question; In your opinion, what area of Oregon is the has the lowest cost of living, less damp during winter, and has access to MMJ dispensary, a local VA, college or university, transportation, etc. Thanks. – – – Nutter. Friday, 10-13-2017, 4:30pm
“https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/” – – – Great calculator for some of the info you seek. Lots of good info for veterans wanting to become expats too.
Wihout ANY question in Oregon the most cost effective place to live inside Oregon is the Eugene/Springfield area. We are an hour from the
Oregon Coast, an hour the other way from world class snow skiing and Eugene/Springfield stradles the Willamette River. All fresh water here, nothing stagnant, so no mosquitos or bitng insects.
Technically Springfield is the cheapest. Eugene and Sprigfield are two towns squished together. Eugene is BIG athletic (Phil Knight of Nike has erected over a billion $$$ worth of stunning buildings and donations) and there are walking and running paths everywhere. U of O dominates the seven universities in Eugene. There are multiple dispensaries plus a bus that runs every 25 minutes that will take you anywhere for $1.75 one way.
If you go north towards Portland the rents get ridiculous. If you go East, West, or South of Eugene communities get very small. Some have opted out of the marijuanna legalization and atill do not allow dispensaries. Rents in rural areas are cheaper if you seek solitude.
As far as marijuanna availability…lolz, in Oregon we decriminalized marijuanna back in the 70s, which meant just a ticket for posession under an ounce. Very few tickets ever issued. Then we were the first to legalize it for medical use over ten years ago, and last year it became legal for anyone over 21 to grow it. This means that there is a major grow operation in every third house lolz. It also means that whether you want to buy it n a dispensary or from your next door neighbor, the pizza delivery guy, the taxi driver, your landlord, of just about anyone walking around downtown, then it is available and CHEAP.
Then there are guys like me who use column chromatography combined with molecular distillation to refine the already potent marijuanna extracts to near absolute purity. Ok….VERY few around here that do that…ok, just me for now but I can easily produce on my tabletop oil of absolute purity -extreme potency, plus it gives me a hobby. In honesty it is very technical but once learned it is simple to do.
For dryer living the best choices are out of the Willamette valley which all the big cities are located in. For VERY dry then Central and Eastern Oregon (Bend, Redmond, Prineville) are High Desert, but dry in Oregon comes with cold mostly so the trade off for dry weather here is colder weather up in elevation. We have vast stretches of wilderness too if you are into off grid living (I did it for a long time and it SUCKS lol)
@Dennis – – – Thanks for the detailed rundown. I like the aspect that Oregonians are allowed to grow their own. I figured that in Eastern Oregon that it would be dryer but colder. DE is damp and cold during the winter, causing muscle spasms to jingle out Christmas tunes. VA supplies no compounds that work for me. I’ll look into more detail about the Eugene / Springfield area. I’d assume that alternative medicine practices are more acceptable on the West Coast. More competition causing leveled pricing for services. – – – Nutter.
Okay @Dennis, so do you work for the tourism board LOL. I have traveled through Oregon in Big Rig over the years. You have about convinced me to sell out and move. What is the medical care like up there these days. Va or not? I do prefer my privacy but not “off grid”. But that damn wet and cold weather HURTS my every bone. especially my joints, (not somking ones), but hands, neck, knees, etc. I’ll be in touch. Thnx
Eugene has multiple hospitals/clinics and Springfield does as well. The U of O is pretty big here (as I mentioned Phil Knight, multi bazillionaire LOVES U of O) and in fact the latest GEORGEOUS palace like sports arena was constructed on U of O and donated to the place by Mr. Knight and is named in honor of Mr. Knight’s fallen son. The U of O medical school has enjoyed a SIGNIFICANT portion of $$$ from Phil and a litany of other bazillionaires and there is no shortage of doctors here lolz. You have got to see the campus, open to all in the center of town, to realize how much bloody cash MUST be rolling in to the place.
If you have Google Earth they now show stuff in 3d. My God, even my own apartment is shown so clearly that I can tell my back bedroom shades are only half way down! If you use what I call the center of town as a start point, the methadone clinic at 7th and Lincoln St. (lots of vets hang out there), and work out from there you will see the pop drops off steeply once across the river to the East and to the East is where you will find dryer weather. The Cascades form a barrier to ocean moisture which ends up here in Eugene. In less than an hour drive you can go from Eugene at about 400′ elevation to several thousand feet of elevation at the permanent snowline. AN hour and a half drive puts you at permananent glaciers.
As the elevation rises to the East the climate gets dryer somewhat. The air mass has to lift to get over the mountains and as it lifts it cools. So rain drops out. The higher you go, the more rain will have dropped out of the air so there is less moisture for higher elevations. Once across the mountain pass it is desert until about Omaha Nebraska I think.. There are a lot of alcoholics that cling to desert life because in the desert nobody has the resources to give a shit about it, so if you drink heavily and vomit regularly then the Oregon High Desert may be a good choice for you. No hospitals are out there but we do have a Life Flight helicopter that makes routine runs out there. The temp in the Oregon High Desert gets into sub zero weather sometimes even in summer, but at least you can enjoy the local sport of watching the sagebrush grow from a bar stool nearly year around.
South of Eugene is also about 25% dryer judging by rainfall records. 60 minutes south puts you in Roseburg. Imlived down there for a long time. Lots of dry country and some VERY rugged terrain. Huge marijuanna grows down there as the sunshine is great. Lots of poison oak and ticks though too which always comes with that sort of climate – you must use caution around poison oak! It can open up scrape-like sores the length of your arms but worse, anyone touching your clothes after exposure can get it too. The oils of that plant are brutally tough to clean.
I never did like that part about Roseburg. Eugene does not support poison oak or other such stuff. We don’t have sagebrush here either…
I’m damn sure if the VA hadn’t cut my Tylenol#3 off I would not have gone from occasionally smoking MMJ to stimulate appetite to smoking full time for pain relief. If the VA had not had me doing shoulder arm lifts to keep my shoulders from becoming total frozen shoulders I would not have collapse my lung doing those exercises. For the price of a $30 bottle of pills, I’ve now cost them hundreds of thousands & thousands more to follow. FU VA. The only good thing, if you can call it a good thing, I finally have verification of what I’ve known & tried to tell them; I have a growth in my lung. Fu VA & your doctors whom are not licensed to practice in the state they practice medicine in. IF the CBD don’t stop the growth, well I’m ready for death because they are not planning any other treatment unless the thing grows. How Sweet of them.
Of curiosity in the Newsweek article was a link to this. Oath of Exit Act Introduced 07/13/2017 “https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3232/text”
‘I, _ _ recognizing that my oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, has involved me and my fellow members in experiences that few persons, other than our peers, can understand, do solemnly swear (or affirm) to continue to be the keeper of my brothers- and sisters-in-arms and protector of the United States and the Constitution; to preserve the values I have learned; to maintain my body and my mind; and to not bring harm to myself without speaking to my fellow veterans first. I take this oath freely and without purpose of evasion, so help me God.’
Well shit, I have one on my spinal cord on my neck, some on my lungs and one on my remaining kidney
I’m fit for duty..LOL…I don’t let it bother me FUCK IT….Anyone got a smoke?
And FUCK YOU VA
Stalin once said one death is a tragedy a million a statistic. What this means is to make people understand the tragedy we have to tell individual stories. For example as was sworn under oath at a Congressional hearing Philly RO HR manager Lina Giampa allegedly helped her Sister Anna Whitman coverup a Veteran employee suicide with the help of Rubens.
It should be noted this was not the first Veteran employee suicide in Philly and Ms Giampa went on to make threats against whistleblowers as was covered by the media and Rubens helped cover that up as well.
VA Philadelphia = Full of Corruption. Lazy employees, leaving early from work, etc. Around 3pm many employees are ready to bolt out the door. Purses, bags, and coats were laying all over their chairs and desks ready to go. I sat back, and watched the show with my own eyes.
Basturds even complained because I used a wheelchair from the wrong area. What damn difference did it make where I got the wheelchair from? Employees were so upset they waved the VA Fed Coppers on me. A few words on who the wheelchairs were for, and the commotion was over.
FU VA Philly, I’d take it wit them any day or night. What a joke. Thank you HP for giving me the opportunity in learning to stand by and observe the workflow of others. And they think us Vets are stupid. Fawk U VA. – – – Nutter.
True. Anyone sitting in the lobby of the building can feel the breeze of pmc and vsc managers running out the door at three. These clowns make well over a hundred thousand a year and I couldn’t see the clowns doing that in the private sector. How much do they have to make to put in an honest days work? Much of them are leftover dregs family members and sycophants from the previous management team.
The VA hospitals do have some great people working there, In Housekeeping, Physical Therapy or dental and the likes. But the rest sucks
2 days after I attempted to use the VA in North Las Vegas a Vet spray painted,”unable to get help here” got in the car and shot himself but not a word in the local paper. I sat there with another vet with breathing problems suspected heart problems. After 7 hours I left but he stayed.
Kudos on the professional acknowledgement that what you say makes a difference. Whatever else Newsweek may be, in this matter they clearly give a shit about what you have to say.
I am wondering though about today’s headline.
“Newsweek: How VA Fueled The National Opioid Crisis And Is Killing Thousands Of Veterans”
I have to ask, did they get it wrong? I think they did and not on purpose but let me switch just two words to clarify UTTERLY how I perceive this issue. New headline:
“Newsweek: How Opiod Fueled The National VA Crisis And Is Killing Thousands Of Veterans”
(author note: Newsweek if you need a VA issues editor, you can find me here. I wirk cheep.)
there is little fire in the bellies of veterans to do anything to change the system.
I spend a few days in Kokomo, IN at one of the largest Vets Reunions. Been doing that for 30+years. Over the years I have seen vets go from fierce worriers to lets start the day with a joint and a beer. Any more that is one of the few things vets still agree on and come together for. The way I see it, vets in many ways ad to the attrition rate of their lot. The VA loves it cause it reduces the work load, not that there ever was a load in the VA to begin with. Lets face it, we are dying of and there is nothing to stop it. A million Vet march on DC would have an effect. Problem is the organizers of the march would eventually become members of the swamp as well, concentrating on their own financial gain and leave the downtrodden vets to their own as before.
No offense, but IMO, then nothing will change no matter what a group of Veterans decide to do? If this is so, then there’s no use in posting comments to any Vet Related Blogs. The comments then will be seen as being a form of idle bitching, or just hoping that someone with the influence and power will notice Veterans unheard voices that’re justified, and validated complaints? I’m just saying, calling it as I read it. Although, I do understand exactly how your thoughts have led you to this deduction. And, I’ve done the same with other Vet related issues. – – – Nutter.
I say your right NUTTER the corruption is to deep…It’s over my waders ..LOL….Most people still be-lie-ve the BULLSHIT even when you show them facts
that will be the only potential change we can hope for. “just hoping that someone with the influence and power will notice Veterans unheard voices “. WWI, WWII, Korea as well as Vietnam had war casualties and the VA pretty much operated the same way. Now the Middle Eastern vets are faced with many of the same problems. But their concern is earning some money total care of a family. Talk about entrenching, that system is solidified to a degree it would have to be blown up and bulldozed down. CHOICE if handled right would have made a difference but it to was not to be so. With most service organizations talking against it. What power and or influence do vets have. Most of us Vietnam Vets are to old and many of us are pretty bad of to march on DC.
Peter, I would, once in DC, “wheelchair” the way to the White House and Congress!
Like namnibor says; “FUCK the VA!”
Benjamin- FYI You’re ‘Bad VA Art” is now missing from this page and only very fine print of the text of today’s article is in that rectangle instead…on a laptop here, not a mobile device per se. FYI
Now it’s back. Was that a Pig Pharma Hack?
Benjamin- Gr8 “Bad VA Art” today and befitting for today’s Friday The 13th. All that’s missing is “Michael Meyers” or “Jason” or “Freddy Kruger” with respective scary masks or faces as the VA Hack Pain Specialists distributing each Vet the “Oxy Gravestone Marker”. Kudos for bringing this issue up.
“All that’s missing is “Michael Meyers” or “Jason” or “Freddy Kruger””
You can always substitute and image of McDonald Duck, or Shulkin smiling as Dr. Evil. Just as scare if not more given they are real and not Hollywood.
Loved that previous article, Lockheed exec taking the GC helm right under the lipstick on a pig advertisement for another Lockheed article!
Problem is this is NOT *new news* as the VA has been overprescribing oodles of RX narcotics for decades….decades. I no longer take those poisons and have gone medical cannabis, as soon as my private medical, which the Univ. worked closely with the VA…as in hacks were at the Univ. Psych. Dept. RX’ing and also spent 50% of their time at the VA…training hacks to kill more effectively.
They started screwing with my meds about 2 years ago and wanted to suggest a brain machine experiment or sticking needles in me….I HATE fucking needles, so I told them…NO…I am getting off these poisons and using MJ….they were NOT happy….the hacks are not used to patients taking back huge portions of their lives…and I have.
I have tried to convey to people I talk to here in Central Ohio that the nation’s opioid crisis is what lit the fire of the heroin epidemic…but they are NOT one and the same….Big Pg Pharma does NOT manufacturer heroin for junkies…ISIS and The TALIBAN does, and those abruptly cut-off their Pain or Psych meds by the VA or otherwise that are indeed ADDICTED go directly to the streets for the powerful heroin, that’s even more deadly now because of China-provided Fentanyl…an animal tranquilizer that’s cut into the heroin and can kill in microscopic amounts.
This VA cutting Vets off abruptly of pain meds killed one of my best friends approx. 7 years ago. He happened to be a Corpsman Medical RN while enlisted so he knew exactly what to get off the streets when the VA cut him off and sicked the Disruptive Behavior Committee on him and banned him from VA services…this all took place immediately after the VA dropped a $80,000,+ back pay 100% Comp. into his lap…the drug dealers on street must have LOVED the VA for that one.
FUCK OFF VA….you are a more effective killing machine than the terrorists were currently engaged with…that makes the VA on all Veteran’s Terror Watch List.
Did I say FUCK OFF VA yet?
*we’re*….am not a total raging maniac or idiot…just not enough bean yet.
Either Shulkin needs to be fired for allowing this to occur. Or, Shulkin needs to be prosecuted for allowing this to occur!
As far as all of the other reprobates who allow this, they need to be brought up on charges for murdering veterans!
It’s time for the DOJ to convene a grand jury to see the evidence. Once that occurs, we might see some justice for those thousands of veterans who have died by the hands of incompetent VA medical personnel!
It’s also time for VA management, from top to bottom, SES’rs and the like, to be fired. Not allowed to retire with full benefits! That in itself is a slap in the face to the veterans!
This was a very good article out from Newsweek. Of course, Newsweek is a liberal news rag. It’s apparently hitting that demographic of the American People wanting President Trump to do what he promised!
Which, and I agree, he’s failed the veterans population!
All the laws signed cannot, and will not, stop the VA from committing massive amounts of waste, fraud and abuse, IF the perpetrators are not brought up on charges! We, on here and other vetcentric websites, have seen this numerous times in the past. It’s still continues today.
Maybe, and I’m just “speculating”, it’s time for VA management (which includes everyone from Shulkin on down) to learn the hard way on how to actually run a government agency. What I mean by that is simply; Shut down the VA and fire everyone! And I mean everyone! Let veterans use the outside healthcare system of their own choosing!
President Trump just signed an executive order on Wednesday to allow “…insurance companies to cross state lines…”. Which “…will allow for competitive pricing!”
I see this as a “win/win senerio” for everyone needing good healthcare. I may be wrong, but IF veterans were given “healthcare cards”, of some kind, where a smaller VA agency would be responsible for paying the bills for veterans, it would be cost effective. Instead of the massive amounts of taxpayers monies being used for the VA’s upper management pocketing that money!
That’s my opinion, this Friday morning!
Anyone else note the irony that as sleazy as
Hollywood is when scandals come to light people are forced to resign but VA embezzlers like Graves and Rubens keep their jobs with impunity.
“is designed to do this: don’t fix the problems.”……You can’t ask for more money if the problem is fixed….As always follow the money, they are stealing it as fast as the printing press will run…LOL
My brother is a Vietnam Vet who has a back disability. For the longest time they were throwing high dose Tylenol with codeine at it. They handed it out in huge bottles like candy. The same docs who were university physicians prescribed carefully to those university patients. I told my brother that this was legalized drug pushing and that I am sure drug reps were handing out kickbacks. Having worked at a major university for 34 years, this casual treatment of opioids amazes me. We got my brother to a chiropractor who did traction treatments and muscle balancing. He takes no drugs now. As my brother says, instead of giving curative treatment they respond with the usual “delay, deny, and hope you die”. Meanwhile pacify with opioid narcotics and hopefully the VA patient population will reduce.
Yep. When I used to utilize the VA before now Medicare, I used to get HUGE bottles of morphine and more mailed every few months and at that time I lived in the DEEP hood…any package that remotely sounded like it had pills or felt like it from UPS mailing would get stolen and as soon as you try to report this to VA hacks they want to accuse a Vet of SELLING the fucking meds…even though I went to trouble of a police report while holding a vomit pale…did not matter, I was wrong, the VA right. FUCK OFF, VA!
UPS would just leave the white plastic VA pills mailing on my apartment building foyer entrance floor below the mailboxes and I never could get the VA to make it so I HAD to sign for it…the VA Pharm. said that would add a few $ to each shipment and if every Vet asked for that there would be no RX’s…..fuck off, VA.
BTW- I knew that was a BS excuse by VA Pharm., it’s all an intricate game of mind fuck. Did I say fuck off, VA yet today? There you go, just in-case.
I did it with kinesthetic hydrotherapy on my own after learning what to do from a very talented therapist at the DC VA. The guy who took his place was a drill sargent with one size fits all instead of looking at the X-rays and doing what is right for each patient. 13 years on Tylenol 3 before getting it done right.
The “one size fits all” attitude, has extremely hindered many Veterans from obtaining their healing potential(s). A big problem that I experience almost on a daily basis. The Evidence / Experience Based Medicine (EBM) Treatment Model, IMO, has a lot to do with this hindrance. – – – Nutter.
Sure does! And the reason is because they ignore the evidence which is that there exists a “range of normalcy” that only fits about half the patients it purports to serve.
Those that fall outside that range are not anomalies in the VA’s eyes, they are “drug seekers” – – – even when their meds never got to them – – – because the VA DOES NOT REQUIRE all vets to sign for their narcotic meds.
Makes sense to me that if a veteran did not receive their meds from the VA that they might exhibit “drug seeking behavior” when they report same to their PCP and Pharmacist. Because they ARE seeking drugs. The ones the VA never got to them in the FIRST PLACE.
Big Certificate. High Salary. Zero Critical Cognitive Ability. Zero Accountability. These are the prerequisites for being a successful manager at the VA.
I take Tramadol and its considered an opiate. Its the only thing that somewhat touches my knee and foot pain without making mr loopy. My regular doctor says they’re cracking down on this too. I sure hope I can keep taking it.
Jonathan, There is some very bad news out there on Tramadol. It can really do some damage to your brain.
It can also be very deadly when take with other meds.
Although it has 10% the effectiveness of morphine it is much more addictive and cause some very serious problems when trying to quit.
Serotonin Syndrome?
Good evening namnibor,
You are the first person in years to bring this name up, Serotonin Syndrome. I mentioned this to my doctors, primary care and psychiatrist in 2013. I am on 10 different meds, mainly for pain, mental and cardio. They told me that they have never heard of it and weren’t able to justify it as a diagnosis. I then filed a disability claim for it. In 2014, they filed it as non-service connected in my VA Compensation ratings list.
I vape nearly pure cannabinoid. It totally relieves my pain and makes me feel loopy as a bonus, but only if it is really good shit.
What’s up Dennis!
What a difference vaping does to the body especially the lungs!! I have noticed the difference between the combustion smoke when lit by fire versus the vapor air. My physical performance went from 30% to 300% due to vaping! I truly believe cancer is caused by combustion smoke.
Cancer is caused by the pesticides and other chemicals used to bring in a bumper crop. People smoked organic tobacco for years with no probs!
I certainly tend to agree with you, Chaos Blink. Started smoking in ’68 (Chesterfield and Lucky Strike non-filters filched from dad’s pack. Switched to Camel straights in ’73 – – – and continued smoking until 2013 when the price went to the high side of $10 a pack here in Honolulu. Used to get ’em from C-Stores for $1.50 a carton.
Tried all manner of VA nonsense to quit. Stop Smoking Clinics run by people who have NEVER smoked,Patches, Pill, Gum, Lozenges, Cold Turkey and various other methods.
Only thing that got me off the stinkies was vaping. Haven’t had one in a few years now – – – and very rarely desire one. Still vape with Omg nic. When I began vaping, I was at 28mg nic.
Additionally, a wee bit of cannabidiol every now and then helps with my chronic pain in a way that pills cannot begin to touch AND causes no NASTY side-effects.
I am an advocate of vaping. In twenty years, the VA will be offering it as an alternative method for smokers to quit.
Disgruntled Veteran
1973 – 1976 USMC
1978 – 1993 USN
Honolulu, Hawaii
I quit smoking as well finally via vaping nicotine 3 years ago and now the only thing I vaporize is cannabis. Unlike Dennis, if I made the particular choice to not take certain RX’s for a couple of my things, I would just start dying a quicker death, so in a way, I DO have a slow suicidal choice if I should choose…BUT…like Dennis, I said no more to RX pain meds and fucked-up psych meds…again, in it’s stead, cannabis. But, this means I need to move to another state soon because OH’s MMJ is going to be so restrictive, no single M.D. is allowed to have more than -2- MMJ patients in a given year and NOT any patient is to be consecutively on MMJ….WTF? I want to move to Oregon or Colorado within next couple years after I liquidate my life to start off meager again….going to eventually die, cannot take this crap with me, no wife, no kids, just a cat and how about that?
Sorry for morning rant but the VA and their marriage to Pig Pharma just fills me with the urge to defecate or if I were a dancing monkey, I would fling poo.
Rant Out. (even the faint smell of cigs now makes me want to vomit in “A Clockwork Orange” kind of way) 🙂
I agree with you that the mixture/clash of Federal/State Laws governing marijuana usage for medical purposes are by and large – – – senseless and stupid.
Hawaii, while somewhat more liberal than Ohio with respect to those laws – – – is not what I would term a Veteran friendly location for use of MMJ.
Easy enough to get a card from a licensed civilian doctor that will allow you to grow up to ten plants. Under federal law however – – – those plants are a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance.
So, should you have a card for legal MMJ, when you go to Tripler Army Medical Center for a VA appointment – – – SOUND THE COLLISION ALARM, ALL HANDS BRACE FOR IMPACT – – – and then pop positive for marijuana, the first thing that will occur is an “intervention” with a VA social worker trained in substance abuse counseling.
After that, the VBA may become involved with less than optimal financial impact to the veteran. And the possibility does exist that you may wind up in civilian court to explain your aberrant behavior to a judge. You know, what the VA would refer to as a “good veteran outcome”.
If you are NOT a veteran, or do not ever use the VA – – – then none of the above will apply. And you are quite free to get the pain relief you seek. But if you are receiving compensation, then best to keep your shields up!
“within next couple years after I liquidate my life to start off meager again….”
Ironic how the timing works out for us with respect to minimalism. I recently had to move, and it was a nightmare! Really trapped by all the stuff “I had to have” rather than “needed to use”. Good luck to you!
By the end of this month – – – everything I own will fit into a 45L backpack. Then I will be free to roam the world. There are several good videos on U Tube that can help you prepare your mindset, as well as providing tips, tricks and traps info.
Getting rid of everything that I do not use daily. Everything else taking up space in my quarters is superfluous.
Tramadol can interact with many other drugs and cause dangerous side effects or death.