Study Shows That 70% Of Americans Are On Prescription Drugs - Polidicks

70% of Americans are abnormal. Seriously though, it's a due to there being a lot of illnesses (physical and psychological) that we can alleviate now, a lot of shitty living conditions, situations, etc. and a bias against therapy, compassion, etc. mixing to create a ton of depression, and doctors handing out medication like candy. We have a system that goes to [I]both[/I] extremes: people not getting the medication they need and people getting medication they don't need. Let me give you some examples, also known as 'my family'. My mother has migraines every so often, so she needs a reserve of medication for that. I take an SSRI which helps with my depression (which is also getting better due to therapy and time), but also greatly helps with my anxiety and OCD. Seriously, it makes it so that I can actually [I]think[/I] and not just freak out internally when I'm in public. My sister also takes an SSRI for similar reasons, but she also takes antibiotics because "[I]oh no, [B]acne[/B], how rare and dangerous![/I] [sub][sup](mom's reaction, not hers. mom pushed it on her)[/sup][/sub] Finally, my dad takes a fucking [I]concoction[/I] of pills each morning. Seriously, it is [I]literally[/I] a handful. Now, I know that a bunch of them are vitamin supplements, but I also know that he's taking medication. Which medication(s) and for what, I don't know. As an aside, I don't know if he's taking the wrong ones, or if they're mixing together to cancel out, or if they're just not working, or if they [I][B]are[/B][/I] working and he's "normal", but he's still pretty crazy. Probably the last one, with my luck.

[QUOTE=TheTalon;41113388]It was a Minor Emergency, genius. It was just pain[/QUOTE] Why would you say you went to the ER if you went to a minor emergency?

Future generations are going to be so dependent on drugs...

[QUOTE=W00tbeer1;41115578]Future generations are going to be so dependent on drugs...[/QUOTE] [I]Future?[/I]

The last prescription I ever had was an albuterol inhaler. Two years ago. I've used maybe 70 blasts out of the recommended 200.

[QUOTE=TheTalon;41113388]It was a Minor Emergency, genius. It was just pain[/QUOTE] minor-emergency clinics and the ER at a hospital are completely different things fyi You probably should have gone to a minor-emergency clinic instead of the ER, that's a fault on your part technically, but a lot of people don't even know about them at all really so it's no big deal honestly.

Whooo, in that %30. I don need no durgs.

I've never taken any pills or antibiotics at all

When large numbers of people are on antidepressants, that's certainly an indicator of an underlying problem, which antidepressants don't fix, only temporarily mask.

[QUOTE=SCopE5000;41116327]When large numbers of people are on antidepressants, that's certainly an indicator of an underlying problem, which antidepressants don't fix, only temporarily mask.[/QUOTE] probably also a part of it has to do with people/doctors thinking because someone felt sometime in their life that they suffer from clinical depression. Really doesn't help with the stigma against depression when anyone who felt bad once can get pills thrown at them for it regardless of if they have a problem or not.

you guys forget that not every perscription drug is to "save lives." am extra strength cream for poison ivy might require a perscription. id wager a good chunk of that 70% is people on a perscription temporarily

[QUOTE=evilweazel;41116196]minor-emergency clinics and the ER at a hospital are completely different things fyi You probably should have gone to a minor-emergency clinic instead of the ER, that's a fault on your part technically, but a lot of people don't even know about them at all really so it's no big deal honestly.[/QUOTE] Both of those are usually connected in most areas, my town(of 50,000 people) only has 1 major hospital and a lot of non-emergency practices.

I'm in that 30%. Hell if I could I prescribe to some of that medical Marijuana if it was available in my state.

[QUOTE=SCopE5000;41116327]When large numbers of people are on antidepressants, that's certainly an indicator of an underlying problem, which antidepressants don't fix, only temporarily mask.[/QUOTE]No psychoactive medication is meant to fix a problem tbh. It's either something to keep you able to live life while the problem is worked on via therapy, or to make life tolerable if you've got an as-yet incurable condition (like schizophrenia). There are no drugs that can fix a misfiring brain hearing voices that aren't there or such.

As long as they're being prescribed reasonably, I don't see an issue. But if doctors are prescribing people stuff because it's easier than treating them through other, better methods then that's a worry, especially with regards to the rise of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains.

[QUOTE=Camundongo;41116701]As long as they're being prescribed reasonably, I don't see an issue. But if doctors are prescribing people stuff because it's easier than treating them through other, better methods then that's a worry, especially with regards to the rise of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains.[/QUOTE]Antibiotic resistance will probably be the single greatest medical crisis ever if it's not sorted out. Deeply concerned it's not being taken more seriously by anyone other than scientists.

[QUOTE=Sgt Doom;41116672]No psychoactive medication is meant to fix a problem tbh. It's either something to keep you able to live life while the problem is worked on via therapy, or to make life tolerable if you've got an as-yet incurable condition (like schizophrenia). There are no drugs that can fix a misfiring brain hearing voices that aren't there or such.[/QUOTE] I'd say that because 'the self' is an illusion anyway, it might not be as difficult to solve these things as is commonly understood. Psychology as it currently stands is about building up/ strengthening the illusion. Removing it entirely might be a better route.

[QUOTE=SCopE5000;41116900]I'd say that because 'the self' is an illusion anyway, it might not be as difficult to solve these things as is commonly understood. Psychology as it currently stands is about building up/ strengthening the illusion. Removing it entirely might be a better route.[/QUOTE]Oh, right. I keep forgetting why I prefer not to waste time with psychology debates with you :v: Carry on as if I were not here.

[QUOTE=Sgt Doom;41116966]Oh, right. I keep forgetting why I prefer not to waste time with psychology debates with you :v: Carry on as if I were not here.[/QUOTE] I guess that's why New Scientist, a respected scientific journal, did a multiple-page & cover special on this topic a few months back. [url]http://www.newscientist.com/special/self[/url] Cause ya know, it's just my opinion right?

I take 4 prescriptions every day. Prozac and ritalin for depression and anxiety in the morning/afternoon, then 2 other prescriptions for insomnia at night. It sucks.

I have only had to take prescription meds twice in my life. Once when I was younger and had strep and recently after a snowmobile accident I was put on 1,200mg ibuprofen. Didn't take those for long though, that stuff is horrible for your liver. Actually I also forgot about my ritalin for my ADHD but I stopped taking that years ago. So yeah 3 prescriptions, but I am currently taking nothing.

[QUOTE=SCopE5000;41117101]I guess that's why New Scientist, a respected scientific journal, did a multiple-page & cover special on this topic a few months back. [url]http://www.newscientist.com/special/self[/url] Cause ya know, it's just my opinion right?[/QUOTE] lol psychology This is a thread about medicine, a real science. Also, New Scientist is not a journal, it is a magazine. It publishes articles and there is no peer review.

It's a mix of things really. But in America you are often prescribed them and not even sent to a psychiatrist.

[QUOTE=GoldenGnome;41116411]you guys forget that not every perscription drug is to "save lives." am extra strength cream for poison ivy might require a perscription. id wager a good chunk of that 70% is people on a perscription temporarily[/QUOTE] Or it can be as simple as a prescription antacid, I need to take 1 a day for a few months or else my stomach lining gets burned.

[QUOTE=SCopE5000;41116900]I'd say that because 'the self' is an illusion anyway, it might not be as difficult to solve these things as is commonly understood. Psychology as it currently stands is about building up/ strengthening the illusion. Removing it entirely might be a better route.[/QUOTE] Yes, because the best way to stop being schizophrenic is to stop and think to yourself: "I don't exist." Wait, you're talking about removing "the self". are you Gendo are you going to turn us all into tang I don't want to be tang keep your instrumentality to yourself

That anti-depressant prescription rate is quite scary, considering most anti-depressant drugs are so fucking nasty in the long run.

I can proudly say that the only medication I take is an OTC allergy pill. Feels good.

A lot of the problem is people getting misdiagnosed so they can get a scrip for narcotics or anti-depressants when they don't truly need them. Some of it is also TV ads for pratcially every major Rx drug in mass production. The TV ads make it seem like you absolutely MUST be on the drug in the first half and most people are too busy setting up an appointment to listen to all the side effects. America does have a drug problem.

[QUOTE=TestECull;41119955]A lot of the problem is people getting misdiagnosed so they can get a scrip for narcotics or anti-depressants when they don't truly need them. Some of it is also TV ads for pratcially every major Rx drug in mass production. The TV ads make it seem like you absolutely MUST be on the drug in the first half and most people are too busy setting up an appointment to listen to all the side effects. America does have a drug problem.[/QUOTE] I remember turning on the TV a couple weeks ago and there were about 12 commercials about different medications all on at the same time. It was kind of silly.

[QUOTE=Skarr;41118957]I can proudly say that the only medication I take is an OTC allergy pill. Feels good.[/QUOTE] I never got the whole idea about being proud about not taking medication. Okay, when it's not necessary I can see the point, but I know loads of people who are proud about not taking ibuprofen when they've strained or sprained something, and then proceed to hobble around in agony. I've been told I'll have to take anticoagulants for the rest of my life or I could suffer from several severe and possibly fatal illnesses, but I'm not sure why that would ever be considered something to be embarrassed or ashamed about?