Veteran’s Affairs Hospital Blocks FDA-Approved PTSD Study
The renowned Dr. Sue Sisley, who is overseeing a $2.1 million study on cannabis’ effects on veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), says her efforts may fall short due to the lack of cooperation from The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in Phoenix.
Sisley’s study has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services. It’s also being funded with a $2.1 million grant from The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Sisley’s study is taking place about 20 miles away from the hospital, which treats up to 91,000 veterans in Arizona.
Sisley said she is unable to recruit 76 patients to participate in the study, even after posting billboard ads. In order to qualify, patients must suffer from chronic PTSD, meet screening guidelines and live in the Phoenix, Arizona area. The triple-blind study would track veteran’s sleep patterns and bloodwork on four potencies of cannabis including a placebo.
“The biggest blockade right now . . . is the fact that the Phoenix VA hospital will not allow us access,” Sisley told Rocky Mountain PBS. “I worry that we won’t be able to complete this study because the absolute highest density of treatment-resistant PTSD patients is in that hospital.” Public affairs officer at Veterans Affairs Paul Coupaud said that federal laws don’t allow the study.
The Phoenix VA has struggled with scandal before. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel issued a whistleblower report about bad practices. Reports indicated that in October 2015, 3,900 doctors appointments were canceled, causing harm in at least 12 patients. The Phoenix VA was awarded the lowest possible ranking in an internal investigation in the FY2016.
Most of us are already aware of the sometimes deadly risks of PTSD drugs. PTSD drugs like Sertraline (Zoloft), Paroexetine, Fluoxetine (Prozac), and Venlafaxine are serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and can only do so much, and that’s why medical cannabis research is so needed.
