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Wisconsin Veteran Mortality Study: Suicides, Accidents Way UpBy John Zutz"Post traumatic stress is taking a toll on our veterans," according to Henry Anderson, the doctor in charge of Wisconsin's Vietnam veterans mortality study, "and for some the price is higher." The two-year study adds weight to the growing body of evidence that the stress of service in Vietnam has contributed to continued health problems. "There is a sharp pattern of unexpectedly high mortality rates from accidents and suicides among Vietnam veterans," said Anderson. The study also shows far higher rates if death from stress-related disorders than other veterans from the same era. State Veterans Affairs Secretary John Maurer added, "the results of this study give us hard scientific evidence to support what Vietnam veterans have been telling us for years." Although the study found clear patterns of higher death rates among Vietnam veterans, the findings on deaths from Agent Orange were elevated but found inconclusive by the study. Vietnam veterans showed a 5% higher death rate from soft tissue sarcoma, a form of cancer directly linked to exposure to Agent Orange. However, the study found only nine deaths and though they were more than expected, they were termed "statistically insignificant." The study relies on the "higher powered national study" to show any effects of Agent Orange. The study clearly showed that Vietnam vets died from:
The study also showed higher than expected death rates from cirrhosis of the liver, and elevated levels of alcohol and tobacco abuse. Anderson said some of that was likely due to "military practices, which subsidize and promote alcohol and tobacco use." That probably related to continued use to "cope with the continuing stress they have experienced in their lives," he said. The study took more than two years to complete and was jointly conducted by the State Division of Health and the Veterans Affairs Department. John Zutz
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