Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Pills, Pills, Pills... Drug Nation

In a recent Reuters article (click here) it was reported that the number of people taking prescription antidepressant drugs doubled from 1996 to 2005.


10% of the population is reportedly taking antidepressants. When you go to work, just think about that... for every 40 people you know... probably 3 to 6 of them are popping "make me feel better" pills before or after work. The study also found that, not only were more people being prescribed pills, but the amount of pills per individual was on the rise.
"Here... take more... and more... and more pills. They'll make you feel better."
People are really... really stupid. As I've said before, the biggest backers of anti-drug laws in this country are cigarette, alcohol and prescription drug companies. [ We must fight this war on drugs to protect our kids! ] The "stigma" associated with drugs is different based on where you get them from. Its okay for Middle American moms (from the Heartland... aaaaawww) to just... "zone out" on drugs. To put a rambuctious pre-adolescent on Ridilin. To give their teenager some Paxil or Prozac. But, weed smokers need to go to prison.
All the while prescription drug companies get richer... and richer... as more Americans join Pill Nation. Lets the mental numbness begin!
Add to that, a recent CNN report about teen heroin use on the rise in Connecticut. But, what... you may ask... does that have to do with prescription drugs? The report found that most of these teens were recent prescribed Oxycontin. A painkiller that was prescribed for different physical pain... but Oxycontin is an opiate. Opiate... why does that word sound familiar. Hmm.. opiate... opium... heroin! Ooooooooooh. So, drug company prostitutes... er... um... whoops... I mean... doctors... are prescribing their patients Oxycontin, and these people get addicted (just like... heroin addicts like Rush Limbaugh) and they decide they might as well just start doing heroin. Because, you get the same drugs... and here's the kicker... at a fraction of the cost.
I got a suggestion for a war on drugs we should fight... and it starts on GlaxoSmithKline's doorstep