vietnam vets-hepatitis C

As a Nam Vet, young, dumb and at the time and place did not give a (you know what) got addicted to HEROIN. Before I got to Nam I had never done any type of drugs. No I was not in combat although now looking back I wish I had been assigned to a unit in the bush, would not have the problems I have today. I was assigned to a trucking unit and lived in horrible conditions as most of us did. When I first started using the drug everyone in our company of which about 90% where using it. At first we thought it was cocaine and it was not addicting.(STUPID) We would put some in a cigatette and smoke it. Well befor long we had not only a monkey on our back, we had Godzilla. Tried to get help and there was none. I asked for help and was send to a medic who gave me two thorazenes and told to come back the next day. That was like giving a asprin to a cancer patient. Well things progessivly got worse and I was using a needle. Through this use I ended up with Heptitas B and several other infections. It is now known that 15% of the Nam Vets during the late 60's to early 70's have Hep.C virsus 1% who were non vets. The Veterans Administration will not recognize this as a problem they should address as far as disability goes. People have got to understand that this was an illness just like agent orange ect. We got exposed to something that would not have happened it we had not gone to Nam. Now over 160,000 Vets have Hep.C which will eventially lead to liver cancer. This problem needs to be addressed by our leaders. One more thing, on an average, after the 1st year that the Vets returned only 2% were still using herion and after 2 years only 1%. Now they are finding out that Hep.C shows up positive 20-30 years later. Believe me, I would have rather walked through rice fields than fight the worst addiction in the world every day of my life with no help. Now I have a good business, one wife for 32 years, married daughter with 3 grandchildren and NOW I know I won't live to see my grandkids in highschool and my wife will not receive and compensation from the VA. This issue does not need to be swept under the carpet.