State Rep. Jamie Thompson recently hosted VFW and other veterans’ organizations at an event in Lansing to promote needed care and awareness for issues facing those who have sacrificed for their country and fellow community members.

Thompson, who is a Licensed Practical Nurse, spoke about safe prescription practices, side effects of psychotropic medications like anti-depressants, and informed consent protections. The event provided evidence-based information about medication-related suicides and veteran suicide prevention strategies.

“I know that drugs save lives. I also know that drugs can destroy lives,” said Thompson, of Brownstown, noting that 70 percent of veterans in VA care are prescribed with psychotropic medications. “There is a fine line between care and preventable harm. Patients deserve every piece of information when being prescribed medication – the good, the bad and the ugly. That is why we call it informed consent. Patients need to have all relevant information to be properly informed.

“Unfortunately, our veterans are often prescribed medication without everything available to them in order to make an informed decision and this produces negative, heartbreaking outcomes. Veterans have become the test subjects of a field in which side effects, drug interactions and long-term effects are sometimes unknown. This was a very constructive conversation that will help veterans, their families and providers know what to look for in case intervention is needed to help improve care and save lives.”

Thompson, who serves on the House Families and Veterans Committee, recently voted for a state budget agreement that makes veterans and service members a top priority. The signed budget fully funds TRICARE health care coverage for Michigan’s National Guard members so their health care is covered when they are called up – even outside of federal deployments.

In September, she welcomed leaders from Downriver for Veterans, a local nonprofit organization that supports veterans across Downriver communities with emergency funds to assist them with rent, meals, utilities, car repairs and other essential life expenses, to Lansing for a House Families and Veterans Committee hearing. The group provided insight on the need for more detailed veteran benefit screening and registration efforts upon discharge to ensure veterans have access to care and knowledge about available resources, including housing.

“Veterans have showed such incredible courage putting their lives on the line to protect our freedoms,” Thompson said. “We owe it to them to bring awareness to these issues and fight for them.”