Overmedication Nation

This storyline persists despite the fact that government research has repeatedly shown that most adults and children with mental health issues don't get the specialized help that they need. It persists despite the fact that there's really no way to meaningfully evaluate the degree of over-diagnosis and medication unique to our era, because to do so is essentially to look at the current era in a vacuum. We don't know how many adults suffered from things like depression in the distant past because no one ever asked. The words and concepts through which we understand common mental health disorders today didn't exist until the last few decades.

The narrative survives largely uncontested despite the fact, shared by psychiatrist Peter Kramer in his Slate review of Barber's book, that only tiny numbers of people are receiving mental health services without real, clinical levels of mental health dysfunction or a history of mental illness or trauma. And despite the fact that, contrary to received wisdom, the United States is not a world leader when it comes to the use of psychiatric medications. (The U.S. is "'in the middle' relative to other countries, and is not an outlier," a study from M.I.T's. Sloan School of Management, cited by Kramer, showed last year.)

Read the entire story here.

Comments

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

Mental health? ANYONE and EVERYONE I know is on some sort of a pill... except myself. I totally started distrusting the medical industry after I went to the doctor because I was having trouble sleeping.

Without a blink, I was prescribed an antidepressant.... one that make a person dependent and often times the individual cannot get themselves off the meds without SERIOUS side effects.... as we've recently seen in IN. Naturally I didn't take a single pill. It seems that the legal case I was working on was just causing me some excess stress and affected my sleep... and passed as soon as the verdict was in.

Most doctors are the whores of the pharmaceutical industry... and that's a sad truth.

[loki]

Its probably a damn good thing people are so over medicated. If they werent they would probably see what is really going on, and instead of the occasional shooting out of total frustration of being constantly lied to and screwed over, it would be a daily event.

[ashabot]

Come on! It's the people ON drugs who snap. How about learning to live life on life's terms? Whatever happened to not just "coping" with reality but accepting it?

[curiousasheck]

Only Meds I take are vitamins and activity. An occasional aspirin. Next to no TV watching telling us all how sick we are every commercial.

Works like a charm

[singermuse]

The things that make for good mental/physical health and longevity are mostly free except for the cost of making a real commitment to yourself, like having a strong positive spiritual life, daily meditation, having close ties with a network of friends and family, practicing an active lifestyle like simply walking every day, making sure to get enough sleep. Eating fruits and vegetables, Being moderate in all habits. But these things are not patentable and won't make a profit for the drug companies and (mis)managed care. To keep consumers consuming they bombard the airwaves to foist non-foods, isolation, an unhealthy lifestyle and by doing so, create an unhappy unhealthy depressed population with the need for "happy pills" pills for lack of sleep, pills to keep you breathing in a polluted environment, pills to combat obesity, pills for all our "ills" and dis-eases.
Some drugs are lifesavers, but the need for some drugs are a commentary on our society and its ills.

[rubicon101]

There was a time in our country where our government took the bold step to ban hard liquor advertising in all mediums, no billboards, no magazines, no TV, no radio...until just recently.
This is what I feel our government should do with prescription drugs...take it off the airwaves and print and put it back in the hands of the doctors to prescribe medications when it is absolutely necessary!
It's killing our society and I also feel that it is partially to blame for the recent murder/suicides that have been happening in our country.
I wish more would be said about this!
You can't watch a evening network newscast without at least five or more drug commercials.
People born today have no idea what a world without medication is like...and it will not get better unless something is done..The Drug companies are the NEW Tobacco companies .

[Charity]

indeed, prescription drugs were not allowed to be advertised on TV until fairly recently. it was pressure from the big pharma lobby that broke down that barrier.

there also was at time when both doctors and lawyers would not advertise their services in as blatant a way as they do now. i believe that was just a restraint of dignity among both groups - not sure if there was a legality involved - but i certainly could do without THEIR advertisements too.

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[yappnmutt]

and all the good drugs are illegal. where's the justice!?

[CanCar]

One pill lowers cholesterol. Another lowers blood pressure. Still others stop allergy symptoms, prevent ulcers and lift the fog of depression. Each may be valuable, but some doctors and pharmacists say Americans rely too heavily on the proverbial magic pill.
losangelescardonations.com

[Roswalien]

Prescription drugs are a huge problem in American life, and not just those associated with psychiatry. I was recently prescribed Celexa for anti-anxiety and was turned into a zombie. I could not stop taking them soon enough to get the drugs out of my system. My sister-in-law has recently been addicted to painkillers and was prescribed another drug (saboxen? sic?) which literally makes her a narcoleptic for two hours after she takes the pill (which she does four times a day). If Americans would (for lack of a better term) man-up and face their problems instead of looking for the magic pill, the society would be much better off.

[bmermaid]

The answer is so simple.
Throwing medicine at a problem is so much cheaper for the government & insurance companies than to actually treat mental illnesses, or God forbid, hospitalize people that are a threat to themselves and society.
Ronald Reagan started it. He threw open the doors of mental hospitals TO SAVE MONEY.
So go thank St. Ronny, stupid rethugs.

[StyleSwag]

There is a reverse prejudice now. Look how everyone wanted to crucify Tom Cruise because he criticized pyschiatry as it's practices today and that drugs were not always the answer.
http://www.styleswag.com/styleswag-magazine/aww-did-you-have-a-lousy-childhood-get-over-it.html

[mijumom]

I think it was the messenger more than the message. I actually kind of agreed with him but he came off as an arrogant kook.