A VETERAN with first-hand experience using medicinal cannabis says the apparent lack of support for a legal drug is contributing to veteran suicides.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Before seeking out cannabis, Jason Frost's post-military routine had him taking a cocktail of prescription medications.
His chronic pain caused by a back condition, as well as, his adjustment disorder with PTSD required him to take opiates, anti-inflammatories, diazepam, antidepressants and cortisone injections.
"(There were) other medications I can't even remember and I continued to get worse," he said.
It was during an appointment with his psychiatrist back in 2015 when he was told about a veteran run group called Weeded Warriors, which shares information about the medicinal benefits of cannabis and alternative therapies for service-induced stress and chronic pain conditions.
After reaching out to the group, Mr Frost said he was able to find out more information about the benefits of medicinal cannabis for his condition and was open to exploring the option.
Doctors within the state of NSW can now legally prescribe patients medicinal cannabis since 2016.
Despite the state and federal government's approval of cannabis for medicinal purposes, Mr Frost said local doctors are still reluctant to learn about its uses and write out a prescription.
"From what I've experienced and the feedback I have received from other veterans, gps and specialists' immediate response is 'no' because as far as they are aware; this medicine is a bad drug, the harm outweighs the benefit, and that there's not enough evidence that it works," he said.
"All the negative and harmful effects are referring to excessive use of high THC, this is not what we're getting prescribed."
He started using cannabis for medicinal purposes during the Christmas period of 2017 where he also experienced withdrawal symptoms from the powerful cocktail of prescription drugs that he previously relied on for pain management.
"I had to obtain it through methods that I was not too happy about, but that did enable me to start using it medicinally," he said.
Unlike what most people might think, Mr Frost said it was not as simple as buying a bag of weed to smoke and hoping for the best. He explained that there was "a method behind the madness," which he researched in great detail before taking that leap.
The drug proved more effective at providing relief than the medications prescribed in the past. Once he became aware of Cannabis Access Clinics, Mr Frost proceeded to secure state and federal government approval to be treated with medicinal cannabis from October last year.
The nearest clinic is in Sydney, which Mr Frost pays over $1000 each month because he does not have a local doctor willing to authorise his prescription.
Although the Department of Veterans Affairs reimburses Mr Frost for the out of pocket cost, he said this was not always the case.
He said that while he waited for DVA approval, he still was forced to source the medication illegally or stop using for a period of time.
"It was a long and complicated process but the clinics have enabled me to be on the medicine now for nearly eight months straight," he said.
"That is where I found the most improvement - when I was able to do it consistently. I have withdrawn off all other medications and it has helped me commence physiotherapy, control my diet and substantially improved my mental health."
Mr Frost said the government has legalised medical cannabis, but has "failed to educate" the public and medical professionals about the medication.
He said veterans should not be forced to travel to "expensive private clinics" when prescriptions could be given by local doctors, who could monitor the effectiveness.
It is his belief that the restricted access and lack of public education is contributing to veteran suicides, which is on the rise.
He said people need to move beyond the stigma attached to cannabis and recognise it for the benefits it can bring to veterans struggling with a range of physical and mental health conditions.
"I work with a number of veterans who are strung out to their eyeballs on antipsychotic medication, sleeping pills and opioids, they are hurting unnecessarily," he said.
"It's a cycle, when they get worse they end up going up to a mental institution for a little while, change to new SSRIs (antidepressants), then they come back down and it starts again.
"Many who get relief from cannabis are having to obtain it illegally and put themselves at risk. It is exposing them to doors they shouldn't have to open.
Veteran suicide is on the rise, and this medicine can help combat it. We have a medicine out there right now available to veterans, but we can't access it.
- Jason Frost
Turvey Park's Soul Pattinson Chemist manager Monique Harry said medicinal cannabis is easily accessible at the pharmacy, but the problem lies with finding a local doctor willing to provide a prescription.
Ms Harry said many veterans have tried "every medicine under the sun" for mental and physical health conditions, but medicinal cannabis is an "extremely" effective for pain management, as well as, for people suffering from traumatic stress.
The simple solution would be changing people's mindsets about the medical side of cannabis, but a fly-in-fly-out doctor, who could visit once a month is also an option, according to Ms Harry.
"If we make it easier for people, they are less likely to buy off the streets and will be under the watchful eye of a general practitioner who knows what they are doing and will get the full benefit of what it is all about," she said. She said the next step will be to make the medication more cost-effective in the future.
- If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.