“Over the last decade the percentage of Americans who took at least one prescription drug in the past month increased by 10%. The use of multiple prescription drugs increased by 20% and the use of five or more drugs increased by 70%. By 2007–2008, one-half of Americans used at least one or more prescription drugs; and 1 out of 10 used five or more. One out of every five children used at least one or more prescription drugs compared with 9 of every 10 adults…” -National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Data Brief; No 42 September 2010
Today most people will agree that one of the most pressing issues in our society are the drug wars. Illegal drugs are linked to violence, crime, and even hard hits against our economy’s welfare; however, you rarely hear about the major addiction that our nation, as well as many other nations, has to prescription medication- specifically, psychiatric medication. Almost everyone I know has taken some form of psychiatric drug, given to them for everything from depression, anxiety, aggressiveness, to more specifically diagnosed disorders such as bipolar disorder, ADHD, manic depressive disorder, etc. The funny thing about all of these “disorders” is that we are made to believe they are really physical diseases. Doctors push the prescription of medication so hard by leading us to believe that these disorders are caused by chemical imbalances, when really there is absolutely no way to prove what a chemical imbalance even is. When a person is diagnosed with a mental disorder, there are no blood tests, no CAT scans, no lab work that is performed to determine the cause. They are simply diagnosed ("Real Disease").
Of course mental disorders do exist, but according to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders there are thousands of different mental "diseases" that have basically been identified based on certain behavioral symptoms. They are voted into this database by a board of psychiatrists. There is no way to determine differences between one disorder and another--it's like they gave one disorder a thousand different names. Furthermore, the only reason doctors treat them as if they were physical ailments is to sell drugs. In the US, the distribution of prescription medication has become a 76 billion dollar industry (“Hooking Your World On Drugs”). It is true that many of the drugs prescribed to treat “mental illness” can be effective for a time, but in many cases psychotropic drugs immensely increase the risk of suicidal or homicidal behavior, having the complete opposite effect on the patient than what was intended. (Kuba, Teizo et al. 241) The number of adults taking various medications for these mental issues is troubling enough, but even more so is that of the growing percentage of children and young adults also being prescribed these medications. Currently 1 out of every five children take at least one prescription drug regularly (that's over 7 million children) and 9 out of 10 adults. (NCHS Databrief, 2010).
We teach our children to say no to drugs. We know that illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, LSD, heroin, and even legal substances like alcohol and cigarettes are harmful to our bodies. What many people don't understand is that prescription medication can be just as if not more dangerous, especially in youth. Common and well-documented side effects of psychiatric drugs include mania, psychosis, hallucinations, depersonalization, suicidal ideation, heart attack, stroke and sudden death. These side effects although clearly documented in the fine print of the prescription papers given with the medication, are hardly addressed in the doctor visit prior to the prescribing of the medication. (I can say this from personal experience!) Doctors are only too quick to write off a prescription for each and every symptom, and soon we are overwhelmed with the amount of medication we are taking for problems that might have been managed otherwise- perhaps by exercise, dietary adjustments, therapy, etc.
Another fun fact--over 80% of prescription medication prescribed to children have never been tested in children ("Drug Research"). Doctors prescribe these medications "off label" meaning that the drugs have never been approved by the FDA for use in children based on well controlled clinical trials. Why is this? Basically pharmaceutical companies "...generally have viewed children as a market that would bring only small financial benefits."("Prescription Drug Use"). It's also harder to conduct clinical studies for medication in children, as they don't have the same ability to retain all information, way the risks, and feel secure in the testing processes the way adults do. By law, children over 7 years of age have the final say whether or not they will participate in a clinical study. True, prescription drug testing can be difficult and expensive, but that doesn't mean we can just skip doing it ("Prescription Drug Use")!
So. We know that the drug wars are a big issue in our society today. Hopefully more people will see what a rising issue the drug war between society and pharmaceutical companies is too. We need to realize that pills aren't the answer to everything. There are other methods of treatment available. Medicine is a wonderful thing. Prescription medication can also be a great asset to our health care; however, we must stop the over prescribing or soon we will all be hooked on something.
Another fun fact--over 80% of prescription medication prescribed to children have never been tested in children ("Drug Research"). Doctors prescribe these medications "off label" meaning that the drugs have never been approved by the FDA for use in children based on well controlled clinical trials. Why is this? Basically pharmaceutical companies "...generally have viewed children as a market that would bring only small financial benefits."("Prescription Drug Use"). It's also harder to conduct clinical studies for medication in children, as they don't have the same ability to retain all information, way the risks, and feel secure in the testing processes the way adults do. By law, children over 7 years of age have the final say whether or not they will participate in a clinical study. True, prescription drug testing can be difficult and expensive, but that doesn't mean we can just skip doing it ("Prescription Drug Use")!
Parents should seriously consider the side effects these drugs might have on their children before they put their entire well being on the line. Even when these drugs do work to stabalize behavior, or calm a hyperactive mind, they can change the entire personality of the individual. Not only do these drugs take the "edge" off of anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, etc.; they also take the edge off of life itself. They numb the mind and the senses and make it difficult to be fully present in all of life’s situations (“Hooking Your World On Drugs”). Another point is that once a person has taken one psychiatric drug, they are more than likely prone to take others, sort of like the way marijuana is a “gateway drug” to more dangerous illegal substances. Many people who begin taking one antidepressant will soon find they suffer from anxiety. When they take a pill for anxiety, they will learn that they have insomnia. When the insomnia is under control, they might feel that the antidepressant isn’t strong enough and needs a “helper drug” such as Abilify. It’s a big circle. People, especially parents, need to know what they are getting into when they open themselves up to the world of psychiatry. It doesn’t have to be this way, but we need to educate ourselves and know exactly what we are putting into ours and our children’s bodies.
