Benjamin Wachs Believes U.S. to be a Mentality Toxic Environment
Benjamin Wachs, writer for the Messenger Post Media and editor of Fiction365.com, has a lot to say about the American over-drugging issue. As one of his recent articles points out, "according to the Atlantic Monthly (using data compiled by the World Health Organization), 47 to 55 percent of Americans are diagnosed with a mental disorder at some point in their lives. From depression to psychosis, no other nation comes close to the incidents of mental illness we have.”
A recent study backs up his statement. The study shows that antidepressants like Paxil are the second-most-prescribed medication in the United States. Wachs’ column states that Americans are twice as often diagnosed with a mental illness than the Ukraine, which was second on the list. While it is not completely understood why this is, Wachs believes that Americans are being over-diagnosed in that every personality trait now has become associated with a “syndrome.”
Wachs isn’t the first columnist to write about the over-drugging of Americans; however, his methods of explaining his views are very to the point. For example, Wachs states that “We (Americans) love the idea that we can pop a pill to change our personalities. Much in the same way Americans are always looking for a quick fix way to lose weight without the work, we’re looking for a quick fix to make us happy without really trying.”
Whether or not you completely agree with Wachs, we all can admit he has a point — and pharmaceutical companies are capitalizing off of it. There is a great deal of money in over-diagnosis. With every new condition that is developed, there is a pill created to cure it. Depression and anxiety seem to be the most popular mental disorder diagnoses these days, and antidepressant medication like Paxil and Effexor are being used on all age groups. Even children are being given Paxil to help them combat obsessive compulsive disorder. With this over-medicating, many patients are suffering from the adverse side effects linked with the drugs, including aggressive behavior and suicidal thoughts and behavior.
Considering that studies have also shown that antidepressant medications like Paxil are no better at curing depression than placebos anyway, it may be time for Americans to try something new. After all, people keep taking these medications and they are still depressed. When it comes to the risks-to-benefits ratio, it seems as if no one is really winning but the drug companies, and the lawsuits patients file don't seem to be enough to get the companies to shape up. As Wachs says, “as long as we think that slapping a label on something is the same as understanding it, it won’t get better."
