Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician, Toxicologist and Pharmacologist.
(MOLALLA, Ore.) - WARNING, if you are thin skinned don't read this. This is the first time I've encountered a three-way Pizzen controversy (see: PTSD and the Pizzen Factor)
My recent article engendered what may be the DSM definition which is about fifty words long and to me it is too laborious to memorize or even repeat. I think and suggest that it was put together by $300 an hour psychiatrists to shield their high paying patients of the stigma of being called an ADDICT.
It is much nicer to be referred to as DEPENDENT whether physical or psychological.
Is a tobacco cigarette smoker dependent. Nah! It is possibly worse addicting than heroin. In England, heroin users are dependent on it and doctors can prescribe it. There are thousands of such patients.
Dexedrine (Amphetamine) was first used as a weight control medicine. It produced thousands of what-cha-call-its.
Valium (Diazepam) was the first tranquilizer replacement for the three o'clock martini. It also produced thousands of whatchacallits.
Seconal (Secobarbital) became a very popular sleeping pill. It also produced many of "them".
How many thousands of patients are on many of a variety of anti-psychotic medications. What should we call them?
And what about the millions of heavy alcohol users. What do you call them? I hesitate to include chocoholics.
I'm going to get back to number 5 - Cannabis. The U.S. government estimates 10% of the population uses it. That's about 30 million people. They use it because it alleviates their psychological and physical problems. (A true medicine) When they run out, they only have minimal withdrawal symptoms.
The U.S. government calls them dangerous addicts.
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More information on the history of Leveque can be found in his book, General Patton's Dogface Soldier of Phil Leveque about his experiences in WWII.Order the book by mail by following this link: Dogface Soldier.
If you are a World War II history buff, you don't want to miss it.
Watch for more streaming video question and answer segments about medical marijuana with Bonnie King and Dr. Phil Leveque.
Click on this link for other articles and video segments about PTSD and medical marijuana on Salem-News.com: Dr. Leveque INTERVIEWS & ARTICLES
Addiction, Physical Dependence, and Psychological DependenceSalem-News.com