# Support the Troops: If They're Going Nuts, Drug 'Em and Send 'Em Back to Combat! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 17, 2007, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/support-the-troops-if-theyre-going-nuts-drug-em-and-send-em-back-to-combat/396339 "2007-03-17T15:09:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/support-the-troops-if-theyre-going-nuts-drug-em-and-send-em-back-to-combat/396339/21 "2007-03-19T18:25:19Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Lord help us if an American soldier makes an error in judgement that results in civilian deaths, and said soldier was “on drugs”. Its not like we haven’t handed our enemies sufficient propaganda fodder. [/QUOTE] Despite the fact that the drugs are generally beneficial (and that’s why they’re prescribed), it would indeed be terrible propaganda. But you’re right that it shouldn’t be the soldier’s decision, or the soldier’s CO’s decision. It should be the decision of a doctor who’s not going to lose a promotion if he sends too many people home. The fact that drugs somewhat help soldiers bear the psychic wounds of too much blood, death, and gore, of killing and seeing their buddies killed and maimed, doesn’t mean a soldier bearing those psychic wounds and taking antidepressants for them is sufficiently whole that he can be sent back in to the very circumstances that caused him to need those drugs in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/support-the-troops-if-theyre-going-nuts-drug-em-and-send-em-back-to-combat/396339/22 "2007-03-19T18:30:20Z")
And won’t it be a splendid day when a horror of war becomes a condition to be “cured”? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/support-the-troops-if-theyre-going-nuts-drug-em-and-send-em-back-to-combat/396339/23 "2007-03-19T18:39:54Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] And won’t it be a splendid day when a horror of war becomes a condition to be “cured”? [/QUOTE] O brave new world! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/support-the-troops-if-theyre-going-nuts-drug-em-and-send-em-back-to-combat/396339/24 "2007-03-19T19:01:38Z")
Relax. I do believe it’s working, good. That’ll keep you going for the show. Come on, it’s time to go. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/support-the-troops-if-theyre-going-nuts-drug-em-and-send-em-back-to-combat/396339/25 "2007-03-19T20:45:26Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Lets make a distinction. Soldiers, especially combat experienced soldiers, tend to have an intense desire to return based on their sense of loyalty to thier comrades in arms. However commendable the motive, this is not a decision said soldier should be permitted to make. If his judgement is altered by either experience or by medications, this must be taken into account. Lord help us if an American soldier makes an error in judgement that results in civilian deaths, and said soldier was “on drugs”. Its not like we haven’t handed our enemies sufficient propaganda fodder. [/QUOTE] Thank you for that. It’s funny that in a thread about soldiers “going nuts” you put into words exactly what my thoughts are, thoughts that often result in the question “Are you nuts?”. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/support-the-troops-if-theyre-going-nuts-drug-em-and-send-em-back-to-combat/396339/26 "2007-03-19T20:48:18Z")
Attribution, please, **Ludovic**. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/support-the-troops-if-theyre-going-nuts-drug-em-and-send-em-back-to-combat/396339/27 "2007-03-19T22:34:20Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] Attribution, please [/QUOTE] Pink Floyd, _The Wall_. **Comfortably numb**. > [@](#): > > Come on now > I hear you’re feeling down > I can ease your pain > And get you on your feet again > **[Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb Lyrics | AZLyrics.com](https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/pinkfloyd/comfortablynumb.html)** > > Pink Floyd "Comfortably Numb": Hello Is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me Is there anyone at home? Come on now I... ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/support-the-troops-if-theyre-going-nuts-drug-em-and-send-em-back-to-combat/396339/28 "2007-03-19T22:53:24Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] This sort of thing has been going on since time immemorial, and has nothing to do with this disagreeable and ill-conceived invasion. Going to war–whether just or not–means casualties, and I’m not talking about those from bullets and bombs. [/QUOTE] I don’t think you’re quite getting the point, here. I think everyone in this thread recognizes that the mental effects of combat are just as valid a casualty as taking a bullet. The problem is that the army itself doesn’t seem to recognize it. Sending troops diagnosed with severe emotional problems back to the front after a long weekend and a handful of Xanax is the equivalent of sending a recent amputee back to the front with a crutch and a box of band-aids. It’s a callous and disrespectful way to treat wounded veterans, and like so many other policies implemented under the current administration, it’s killing our soldiers. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/support-the-troops-if-theyre-going-nuts-drug-em-and-send-em-back-to-combat/396339/29 "2007-03-20T00:39:18Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] Pink Floyd, _The Wall_. **Comfortably numb**. > **[Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb Lyrics | AZLyrics.com](https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/pinkfloyd/comfortablynumb.html)** > > Pink Floyd "Comfortably Numb": Hello Is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me Is there anyone at home? Come on now I... [/QUOTE] Thank you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/support-the-troops-if-theyre-going-nuts-drug-em-and-send-em-back-to-combat/396339.md?page=1)