New PTSD clinic opens in Fredericton on Monday
Medical marijuana prescribed through Trauma Healing Centers location in office of psychologist Joan Wright
A new clinic to help people who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain will be opening in Fredericton next week.
Trauma Healing Centers will open its fourth clinic on Monday in Fredericton.
"Basically what I call it is my one-stop-shop for post-traumatic stress and chronic pain," said Trevor Bungay, who is the vice-president of Trauma Healing Centers.
He did seven overseas tours before being diagnosed with PTSD in 2013 and retiring last year.
Bungay said he was on about 18 or 19 pills a day at one point.
"I was on pills to wake up, pills to fall asleep," he said.
"My son who was four years old at the time came in and said, 'Daddy I couldn't wake you up last night,'" he said. "And from that day forward I was like, 'That's it.'"
Range of services offered
Since then, Bungay has sought other modes of therapy and has become the face of Trauma Healing Centers.
The range of services offered include massage, nutrition, psychology and help with accessing medical marijuana.
"The medicinal cannabis is a great tool when it comes to dealing with PTSD and chronic pain. It gives you basically the tools to get to where you're going to get your therapy," said Bungay.
"For lots of these guys medical marijuana is the most appropriate intervention for them," said Wright.
"There's about 35 per cent of people who don't benefit from the traditional medications, or from the traditional psychotherapy interventions."
Meanwhile, Oromocto-based Marijuana for Trauma is opening new offices too.
It is currently suing Moncton marijuana producer OrganiGram over the profit share from Trauma Healing Centers.
Last year Veterans Affairs Canada paid veterans more than $5 million for medicinal marijuana.
New Brunswick veterans received more than 40 per cent of that money.