Scott R. Sullivan

May 5th, 2008 by Scott

Back in February, I posted some thoughts on anti-depressants and medications in general.

Today, the journal, Pediatrics, released a study that many are over-medicated both in the UK and United States, reaffirming my thoughts from February:

Experts say that’s almost beside the point, because use is rising on both sides of the Atlantic. And with scant long-term safety data, it’s likely the drugs are being over-prescribed for both U.S. and U.K. children, research suggests.

Among the most commonly used drugs were those to treat hyperactivity.

Dr. William Cooper, a Vanderbilt pediatrician, said the study shows the drugs are being used “without full understanding about the risks.”

“I find it really interesting that we’re now seeing increases in other countries besides the U.S., which suggests that the magnitude of this issue is global,” said Cooper, also an author of the 2004 U.S. study.
(Source)

So medications are being over-prescribed? Who would have thought.

Americans began this trend that is spreading globally, that everything can be fixed with enough pills. Now understand, I come from a medically trained family: we have doctors and RNs in the family.

Growing up, our family never had ADD or any other “hyperactive.” Instead, we played outside. We used up our energy playing with friends. We didn’t sit in front of a computer texting each other all day.

We actually burned calories playing!

We got dirty, got scrapes, got hurt, cried, then learned to deal with a few boo-boos.

Today, too many people want to find some magic medicine to cure their “pain” when they should stop focusing on the pain and focus on life. They are becoming less social and communicate only through text messages, emails and blogs.

We are seeing a realization of Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. Though, instead of just television, we are seeing medication, television, video games and the infamous “ADD attention span” destroying any interest in reading literature and engaging in real social communication and discussion.

As a result, we are seeing a society that just wants to “feel good” and is ignorance of total facts, leading to the fascination with irrelevant pop “crack” like the latest Britney gossip.

Let’s kick our addiction to meds, pills and the diagnosis of ADD and instead go out and get a life.

Yeah, its harder. Yeah their will be some pain. But that’s life. And I love my life… pain and joy.