By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
More money has been set aside for a treatment
seen as effective for Missouri military members and first responders suffering
from post-traumatic stress disorder.
State Sen. Rusty Black of Chillicothe
sponsored the legislation setting aside $4.3 million to pay for the treatment.
“And there’s a clinic in north Kansas City
providing this service to veterans, first responders at no cost,” Black tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “It’s about a four-week treatment and it’s been very
successful. Matter of fact, the clinic in north Kansas City – there’s 116
clinics in the world – and they were number one, in the world, with treatment
outcomes for the last two quarters.”
Black has been a champion of the treatment ever
since facing the problem close to home. Black says he and his wife went out of
state to get treatment for their son who returned from an overseas military
mission suffering from PTSD and alcoholism, threatening to take his life.
“This was a form of treatment that we found in
Texas at a facility that made a tremendous amount of difference for our son and
he’s a strong advocate for it,” Black says. “And I believe we’re seeing all
kinds of proof where this is a very good benefit – and it doesn’t mean that
there are not other good treatments – but this is one I sure have my heart and
mind set on.”
Another clinic is opening in Lee’s Summit and plans
call for a mobile unit to be funded to serve rural Missouri.
“We probably can’t start a clinic in every
community, because there’s not enough people to be able to sustain that,” Black
says. “But, if we can start a mobile unit that can move around rural parts of
the state and help veterans and first responders, it’s very valuable.”
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.
