The Virginian Pilot reported recently that an estimated 150,000 Virginians may have long-term disabilities because of brain injury. Brain damage typically is caused by trauma such as a fall, a car accident, or violence. Like so many other states, Virginia is ill equipped to deal with this epidemic. A study commission of the General Assembly found that Virginia has only 20 specialized beds providing intense neurobehavioral residential treatment for the brain injured. Since brain injury is the signature injury of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, one hopes that the General Assembly acts quickly to provide for our injured soldiers and other brain damaged citizens.
For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Head and Brain Injury.
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