Conquering Addiction and Living Again
After years of battling opiate addiction and pharmaceutical dependency, many Riverina Veterans have been granted access to life changing medicinal cannabis (MC) medications.
Thanks to services provided through the Pro Patria Centre, the specialists at Southern Cross Cannabis Clinic and the Department of Veteran Affairs, many Riverina veterans suffering chronic and life threatening health conditions have been given another chance. The program has helped dozens of Riverina Veterans, families and assisted doctors to access education and pathways to health.
The Department of Veterans Affairs began authorising MC for veterans suffering chronic pain in 2017, since then hundreds of veterans around Australia have gained access and many saying it’s saved their life. Wagga Wagga father of two and grandfather of four, Phil, ex Army Sergeant served 24 years, (Armoured and RAEME), was medically discharged in 2006 after a severe helicopter incident had left him with permanent spinal and leg damage. For 15 years Phil was prescribed a cocktail of over 15 tablets a day with his wife as his full time career. Bed bound, battling severe depression, weight gain and brain fog, on the 19th of July 2021 Phil was granted access to DVA approved MC. Over a challenging 27 Weeks, with medical supervision, Phil was deprecribed over 95% of his pharmaceuticals. Phil feels the MC has saved his life, his family have gained back a Father and Grandfather, and now Phil is on the road to rehabilitation and volunteers his spare time to help others in his community.
More Australian Doctors and Specialists are seeing the emerging research and real world results with people returning to normal lives. As of May 2022, the TGA has approved over 256,000 SAS Category B applications for MC prescriptions to Australian patients. Many of them are now being subsidised by DVA, and now some others through WorkCover insurance providers.
In February 2022, Southern Cross Cannabis Clinic launched the Veteran Access Scheme (VAS), a compassionate program designed to eliminate the barriers ADF veterans face accessing medicinal cannabis treatment for chronic health and mental health conditions. The VAS provides eligible veterans with a limited supply of medicinal cannabis products at either no cost or at a subsidised rate. There are two pathways for the program. Pathway A has been designed for veteran patients who suffer chronic pain and Pathway B is for veteran patients suffering mental health conditions alone.
According to Dr Mumford, “The VAS is not limited to veterans’ accessing the program through Southern Cross Cannabis Clinic. The VAS is a national program that provides the veterans’ own GP a simple process and the education to prescribe medicinal cannabis treatment for their own patients, thus preventing fragmented care. One of the biggest benefits I have seen with the program is that it has created an opportunity to de-prescribe other addictive pain medications.”
Interest in the program from veterans has increased significantly in recent months and the program is at a critical point where funding options are being explored. If you are a business and you would like to discuss how you can support the program or you are a veteran requiring support, please email info@theprovocatus.com
