PTSD Awareness Month

HANLEY FOUNDATION / COURTESY PHOTO Chris C., a former Top Gun Navy pilot, is one of millions of patriots in the United States who has struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and addiction. Chris’ resume is full of achievements: a summa cum laude graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, a Harvard Business School graduate, and a successful entrepreneur. But none of those accolades stopped him from developing late-life addiction, taking his first hit of crack cocaine on Thanksgiving Eve in 2016 at 50 years old. June is PTSD Awareness Month. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, first responders, active military personnel, and veterans develop PTSD at significantly higher rates (11%-20%) than the regular adult population (4%). They also face a heightened risk of developing substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health issues from PTSD. Unfortunately, 90% of veterans and first responders suffering from SUD do not receive treatment. Chris’ family history of SUD a