Why do Americans take so many psych meds?

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   Wesman Todd Shawposted 10 years ago

   Why do Americans take so many psych meds?
   
   Our televisions treat us as if we are pathetically ignorant, and if we watch television much, we must be just that stupid.  Why is it the powers that be want us drugged out of our minds?
   
   

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   PAPA-BEARposted 10 years ago

   It tells a story of life, of the failure of that society to be a safe place, mentally. The sad spin-off is that these drugs are mind altering, and should not be taken like 'sweets'. Millions of people that take these drugs have become dependent on them, the drugs have turned them into 'subjects of the drug'. I am sure that the spin-off is a society that is on the edge of self destruction.

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      Wesman Todd Shawposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      We've got the sickest culture in the civilized world...and the television tells all who watch it that a pill or two can fix our problems!  It's disgusting

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   Georgie Loweryposted 10 years ago

   One answer is that we're now dealing with things that human beings have never had to deal with before. Our society has alternately evolved and regressed to the point where young kids are killing themselves because they're bullied in school. We're also a "quick fix" society and we want everything now, now, now. Why bother to deal with your depression when you can get a pill that will fix it for you? It's the same with with gastric bypass surgery. Though it's necessary for some people as a life-saving measure, most folks do it as a quick fix. I don't necessarily believe that the government wants us drugged out, but the pharmaceutical companies sure do want us to take something for every little symptom.

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      Wesman Todd Shawposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      "things that human beings have never had to deal with before...."
      
      Like what?

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   peeplesposted 10 years ago

   I think it is a combination of a few things. I think it is quite possible we take so much more than other countries because we are able to see doctors and want to attempt to fix our faults. The statistics in the picture have little to do with reality when half the world doesn't have the same access to doctors as we do. Also one must take into consideration that many regions use herbal remedies for the same mental health issues. On top of that in many countries mental illness is still frowned down upon.
   However I believe a lot of it comes down to the fact that pharma companies give a lot of money to our government. SO instead of our govenment looking out for us by encouraging diagnosis and natural fixes they are instead backing big companies so they can continue getting lots of money. Marijuana has been shown in multiple blind studies to help almost every psychological and developmental delay. Yet the govenment ignores the facts for the sake of filling their pockets.

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      fpherj48posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      peeples....This is an excellent response!  Sound, reasonable and acceptable.  I believe  you're onto something!

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      Wesman Todd Shawposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      ...and Obama's government is attacking the states and the persons that live in them who've decided, justly, that marijuana is medicine.

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      peeplesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Which shocks me. I knew a conservative leader would but I expected better from a dem. I'm not sure we'll ever start looking at rational benefits until we get a third party president. Quite sad when antipsychotics kill lots of people every year.

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   jansharesposted 10 years ago

   I think it's easier for a doctor to prescribe meds rather than to take time and talk to to you about what's wrong. It is also more profitable for them to prescribe these meds which is another arm of this topic. The increase in those tv commercials tells the consumer it's acceptable to take this easy route rather than address issues with other alternatives. It seems that these commercials are "educating" the consumer about which drugs are for what, side effects and all, so they can ask their doctor for the meds. It's so backwards and out of control.

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      Wesman Todd Shawposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      New Zealand is the only other nation on the planet where drugs are advertised...and they really are advertised too.  "Ask your doctor if Zoloft is right for you!"
      As if a pill can fix someone's problems ...

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   pagesvoiceposted 10 years ago

   Wow, talk about karma. I just finished asking a question very similar to yours and then I came across this question.Everyone has a "condition" or a "label" of some sort now. Doctors prescribe drugs like someone drinking water from a fountain. People are self diagnosing conditions that either may or may not exist. It's a feel good society and yet, people are getting sicker and sicker. One thing I am curious about is how chemically engineered food has and is causing medical problems with the masses. When I had worms in my corn and potatoes I also never heard of autism or attention deficit disorders. Maybe I'm just sounding like some guy in their early 60s but these diagnoses weren't around when I was a kid.

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      Wesman Todd Shawposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      No, you sound very wise to me, Sir.  For several years I did the psych med runaround...and none of those things helped me at all.  What did help was ceasing to take them.

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   Dr Billy Kiddposted 10 years ago

   Dr. Anne Wilson Schaef answered the question of why American's take so many psychothropic medications. She said that instead of dealing with social and personal problems, Americans medicate themselves, and then keep plunging forward, supporting a dysfunctional system rather than fixing it.

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      Wesman Todd Shawposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I think I like the way you think, Sir!

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   ShootersCenterposted 10 years ago

   Drug companies, oil companies, insurance, big business controls everything from TV to politicians. Over half of drug companies TV ads are spent reading off the side effects, most of which are worse than what you're being treated for.

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      Wesman Todd Shawposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Don't forget banks!

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   RBJ33posted 10 years ago

   Good question Wes - I don't really know.  I agree that TV ads are mostly ridiculous and that lots of people fall for them.  Just the same way lots of relatively intelligent folks get scammed every day by the likes of Bernie Madoff et al.  I think the medical profession as a whole borders on the criminal - prescribing drugs, ordering unnecessary tests etc.  But then they are fearful of malpractice suits, and the talk of more regulations gets the conservatives all worked up.
   
   Meds are a problem and I wish I had the answer.

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      Wesman Todd Shawposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the very fair comment!

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      RBJ33posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thinking about it further I guess maybe our affluence has some effect.  Capitalism - free enterprise - The mess we are in is an indirect result of having all we have.  The pressure to keep up, to succeed, to pay the bills, be accepted.

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      Wesman Todd Shawposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      RBJ33, would you say those pressures are often enhanced and/or promoted by mass media?

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      RBJ33posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Of course they are.  Mass media is a business, big business, corporations and they need to find their profits also.  The sad part Wes is that far too many of our fellow good citizens are influenced by sources that are self serving.

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    quildonposted 10 years ago

    I agree that Americans are prescribed way too many psychiatric drugs, but after a while they become med-seeking and convince themselves that they have to have the drugs. I work in a psychiatric unit where I see this all the time. Someone comes in for the first time with symptoms of, let's say, bipolar or depression. They are prescribed drugs, leave, come back a couple weeks later, looking worse than they did previously. This time they are experiencing side effects of the medication so they are prescribed another set of meds and soon they are caught in a web from which there is no escape.

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       Wesman Todd Shawposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I've been down that road!  Soon as I dumped all those pills I felt better than ever!

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