Veterans + The Opioid Epidemic + Alternative Therapies
Brandi Pett
Veterans Issues
Veterans at Risk
“Veterans, especially women veterans with children, face a series of challenges once they are done with their military service and are beginning the transition to a civilian life,” said US Air Force Veteran Brandi Pett.
“As a single mama, I know what many women vets face when they come home. Women veterans and their children are at an increased risk of becoming homeless,” added Pett. “We need to make that transition easier for them.”
In 2011, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reported, more than 60% of programs that serve homeless women veterans do not house children; “most programs that did house children had restrictions on the ages or numbers of children” (The Last Salute, 2024).
Alternative Therapies Can Help
“Veterans come back with injuries. Either mental or physical or both. Veterans struggle to afford necessities like housing; they should not have to worry about things like marijuana markets, especially if they can save money simply by growing a few plants for themselves like so many other states allow,” said former US Air Force Staff Sergeant Pett.
While in the Air Force, Pett served as an aerospace medical technician and immunology technician. She also was a medic, EMT Instructor, CPR Instructor, and CPR Instructor Trainer before arterial blood clots in her arms and both legs required multiple surgeries and left Pett with lifelong medical challenges from a triple limb salvage, necrotizing fasciitis, and compartment syndrome.
Flipping the Script on Scar Stigma
Brandi Pett’s Advocacy
Yes I Am The Veteran Podcast
Pett raises money and networks with independent tattoo artists to donate tattoos for veterans through her podcast called “Yes, I Am The Veteran” (available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify), which discusses issues in the veteran community with various non-profits and professionals.
Walking the Walk
“I was told I would never walk again,” Pett recalled (Russell, 2020).
Refusing to accept that diagnosis, Pett not only walked again but she waltzed across the stage of the Ms. Veteran America contest, snagging official status as “Hot Mama of the Year” for 2020.
The Pinup Noir Calendar
Pett recently published ”The Pinup Noir Calendar,” and 25% of each calendar sold goes to @rescue_residence to create safe and suitable housing from amublances and creates mobile housing for homeless veterans.
2-Step
Pett also spends her free time raising money and awareness for various veteran-related charities and grassroots groups, such as Tracy Anne LaPorte’s group that worked to pass the 2Step Act in Texas.
The act was named after LaPorte’s son Adam “2Step” Huckstep who lost his life to an unlicensed rental car driver. Huckstep was an active duty sergeant in the US Army, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and preparing for deployment to Afghanistan when he was killed.
LaPorte now devotes her life to preventing this from happening to other veterans and doing what she can to help other veterans and the Gold Star family community.
Guitars 4 Vets: Helping Veterans Cope with PTSD Through Music
Guitars 4 Vets: Helping Veterans Cope with PTSD Through Music
Pett also works and helps promote Guitars for Vets, a group that provides guitars and lessons, veterans teaching veterans guitar, helping each other connect through the love of music. Pett writes about alternative medical treatments in her spare time.
“If veterans are dealing with chronic pain or PTSD from their military service, they should have the choice to medicate with whatever helps them the best, especially if it helps veterans get off dangerous and addictive prescriptions like opioids,” said Pett, whose father was a drill sergeant and
family tree spans several branches of the military.
Brandi Pett
Through the 2-Step Act, LaPorte’s grassroots group‘s ultimate goal is to make sure rental car companies only issue vehicles to people with a valid driver's license.
Veterans shouldn’t have to face the challenges of PTSD in silence or alone. Through the teamwork and camaraderie of Guitars for Vets, they can join a community where they learn to play the guitar and find solace in the songs they love as well as the songs they have yet to write.
