A recent “addiction to killing” essay written by a student at the Community College of Baltimore County in Maryland shook the campus and left the student barred from attending classes. The essay, titled “War is a Drug,” referred to an addiction to killing that the student developed after serving in Iraq. Since the essay was published in the campus newspaper, the student, Charles Wittington, was removed from campus until he received a psychological assessment stating that he was not a danger to fellow students and staff at the college.
Wittington's Service
Charles Wittington served in the army's infantry in Iraq from October 2005 to June 2007, according to reports published at the time by CNN. During that time, Wittington survived three attacks from improvised explosive devices, and he had to be medically evacuated out of Iraq in 2007. After Wittington's discharge, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. He also lost a finger in one of the attacks. Wittington later received medication and counseling to help him cope with the aftermath of his war experience.
Updated 2026 information from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs notes that PTSD remains a significant issue affecting many veterans transitioning from military service to civilian life, including students attending colleges and universities.
Wittington did not find the transition from the armed service to civilian life an easy road. At one point, Wittington went on a drinking binge that resulted in him crashing a car and hurting a number of people. Wittington spent three months in jail for the incident, according to the Baltimore Sun. When he was released, he enrolled in the Community College of Baltimore in an effort to turn his life around. At the time his essay was published, Wittington was earning all A's in his classes and had never been thought of as a threat to any of the students or faculty on campus.
Students adjusting to civilian and academic life may also benefit from Community College Review’s article on Veterans Services Abound at Community Colleges.
Wittington's Essay
In his essay, Wittington wrote about how war and killing became a drug that eventually developed into an addiction. In an excerpt published at the Huffington Post, Wittington wrote, “To this day, I still feel the addictions running through my blood and throughout my body, but now I keep myself composed and keep order in myself, my mind. War does things to me that are so hard to explain to someone who does not go through everything that I went through. That's part of the reason why I want to go back to war so badly, because of this addiction.”
Wittington's words were painfully honest, and they earned him an “A” from his English teacher. The professor also encouraged Wittington to seek publication for his piece, which he did in the campus newspaper. After the essay was published, the college found the content alarming and potentially threatening to the safety of the campus.
Within a few days after publication, Wittington was called in to meet with college administrators who asked him to remove himself from the campus until a thorough psychological evaluation could be conducted. The college also issued a notice of trespass that prohibited him from entering the campus or attending classes.
Community colleges today continue balancing student expression with campus safety concerns. Community College Review’s article on Student Success Programs That Actually Work at Community Colleges explains how colleges increasingly rely on counseling staff, crisis intervention teams, and behavioral support resources.
Wittington's Side
Wittington was both surprised and frustrated by the school administrators’ responses to his essay. He told ABC News, “I was really frustrated because they didn't give me a chance to explain. I wrote the paper to talk about the reality of what other soldiers go through, and it was therapeutic for me.”
Wittington added that he had received counseling and was on medication for his PTSD. He also underwent the psychological assessment that the college requested, and he expressed confidence that it would show he was not a danger to anyone.
Experts told ABC that it is not unusual for soldiers to become addicted to the adrenaline rush that typically accompanies combat. While that addiction can make it challenging to adjust to civilian life, it does not necessarily mean former soldiers are prone to aggression.
Students coping with emotional stress and trauma may also benefit from Community College Review’s overview of Mental Health Resources for Community College Students in 2025.
The College's Response
Despite Wittington's assertions regarding his mental health, the Community College of Baltimore felt it had no choice but to dismiss him from campus until further assessments could be made. College spokeswoman Hope Davis told CNN, “When you look in the era of post-Virginia Tech and the content and the nature that he wrote about in the article, it caused us concerns. We had to take action against Mr. Wittington to ensure the safety of the college.”
While Wittington was able to finish one of his community college courses online, he had to take incompletes in the rest of his courses because he could not attend class sessions. After his psychological assessment was presented, Wittington planned to return to school and complete his degree. However, he was not planning to return to the Community College of Baltimore after the incident and intended to transfer his credits to another institution instead.
As of 2026, colleges nationwide continue developing threat assessment policies, veteran support programs, and mental health intervention strategies designed to improve campus safety while supporting students dealing with trauma and PTSD. Community College Review’s article on 5 Support Services to Boost Your Community College Success highlights the growing importance of counseling, advising, and wellness resources on campus.
Conclusion
The Wittington case continues to raise difficult questions about free expression, PTSD, campus safety, and the challenges veterans face when transitioning back into civilian education. As community colleges expand mental health and veteran support services in 2026, many institutions are working to better balance student safety concerns with compassion and support for those coping with trauma.
