In Reply to: Re: Interesting & funny take on pharmaceuticals and problems of living posted by susie on April 11, 2007 at 02:33:52:
I hear you on the issue of "people who think nothing of taking 'recreational drugs' with no safety standards but balk at prescription drugs that have been tested and have standards." I have yet to meet a person who makes a big protest against taking psychotropic medications who doesn't ALSO have an abuse problem with street drugs, usually marijuana. It's really about denial, as in smoking dope or chugging booze is a choice made for recreational purposes, whereas prescription medications like anti-depressants or mood stabilizers are for weak-minded crazy people, i.e., women. The real difference in my mind is that so-called weak-minded crazy people have admitted they have a brain disease that's treatable. We're also willing to confront the stigma and ignorance people have about brain diseases rather than deny our problem with the more macho (and socially acceptable) approach of self-medicating with a six-pack of beer.
I think Scientologists have done a lot of damage in confusing the issues and distributing erroneous information in their campaign against psychiatry. At the same time, doctors do the public a big disservice when they over-prescribe controlled substances to people with psychiatric problems and those people subsequently overdose. I'm thinking of a case here in the US involving a celebrity (of sorts)--Anna Nicole Smith.