Vietnam War

8 Pages 1947 Words

The Effects of the Vietnam War on its Veterans


Thesis: The Vietnam War took many tolls on its soldiers; now the veterans have to deal

with medical problems like Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), severe drug and

alcohol addictions, and the effects of Agent Orange.

I. Introduction

II. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

III. Drug and Alcohol Addictions

A. Alcohol

B. Marijuana

C. Heroin

IV. Agent Orange

A. Background Information

B. Diseases of

The Effects of the Vietnam War on its Veterans.
Have you ever seen a homeless man sleeping in the street and hastily conclude that he is at the bottom of society? I bet that you never stopped to think about where that person has come from. He could have been just like you at one time, nineteen years old, just out of high school, ready to start his life, but then he was drafted. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless at least one third of homeless males are veterans (Shay 178). A large amount of veterans have severe problems in everyday society. Many veterans have to deal with physical health conditions as well as mental health problems. The Vietnam War took many tolls on its soldiers; now the veterans have to deal with medical like Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), severe drug and alcohol addictions, and the effects of Agent Orange.
Perhaps one of the most devastating side effects of fighting a war is the amount of stress that is put on the soldiers. This is because of a mental health problem called Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a condition that is caused by an enormous amount of stress that is put on an individual. Post-Vietnam syndrome is another name for PTSD and the two are even more generally known as war neurosis (Scott 28). War neurosis has been recognized as a medical condition from a time dating back to the civil war (Scott 28).
PTSD sets in anywhere from nine to thirty months after the over...