"Veterans Court" in Buffalo

National Public Radio reported yesterday on the intervention Judge Robert Russel of Buffalo, NY exercises on vets whose downard spiral resulting from undiagnosed PTSD leads to the criminal justice system. It bookends with another NPR report last week about Fort Drum's efforts to stem rising DWI offenses by 10th Mountain Division personnel. It's begun publishinig names and photos of offenders in the pages of the base newspaper, the Blizzard.

Just how many of the 10th Mountain offenders are combat vets is unclear. In a New York Times article, Maj. Gen. Michael L. Oates of the Division acknowledges the stresses of extended and multiple deployments the 10th has endured, but expresses his belief that "Soldiers are making a voluntary choice to abuse drugs and alcohol." Based on that view he greenlighted the outing of offenders for its deterrent effect.

From what a layman can learn of PTSD, it seems to share with alchoholism and addiction the dynamic of denial. The host of the condition is either unaware of it or, suspecting it, defensively refuses to acknowledge it, often constructing elaborate schemes of self and public deception. Mirving the two would surely seem a double whammy that could feed on itself endlessly. Add to that a sense of youthful invincibility -- "It won't happen to me" -- and the hope of a deterrent effect seems dim.

While the shame of exposure might deter future offenders, it's a good bet that the offender will react in unealthy ways. Internalizing the shame keeps the game of self-punishment substance abusers engage spinning. Whipping up community condemnation and promoting social shunning is likely to increase the sense of isolation that an early stage addict/alchoholic or PTSD victim is likely already to be experiencing.

It's clear from all three reports that Fort Drum adopted the DWI outing campaign as an extreme and desperate resort after earlier efforts faild to yield results. Designated driver programs and p.r. efforts at raising awareness of substance abuse had been ongoing at Drum, but DWI arrests continued their climb.

Here's hoping the 10th gets wind of Judge Russell's activist approach over in Buffalo and recognizes an opportunity to intervene for the better health of our troops.