[LibKill]

What with all the TV ads I'm starting to think that the large pharmaceutical companies won't be satisfied until every last one of us has 4-5 prescriptions.

[jocon307]

"I'm starting to think that the large pharmaceutical companies won't be satisfied until every last one of us has 4-5 prescriptions."

Me too. But don't drink beer, and heaven forbid you smoke a joint. Could it be about the money? And is Rush Limbaugh just another under-medicated pain sufferer? These are my questions.

I especially like the ads that give you no clue as to what the drug is actually supposed to do for you. Hey, drink Pepsi, and you'll be young, beautiful and attractive. Or something like that!

[Gabz]

What with all the TV ads I'm starting to think that the large pharmaceutical companies won't be satisfied until every last one of us has 4-5 prescriptions.

I am in total agreement with you. Jusging from the number of them I don't understand how any of us have made it through life with out all of these "necessary" drugs....

[rockrr]

OK. Here's my story:

My ex divorced me ten years ago when our daughter was one. Washington state favors awarding the female custody of the children UNLESS you are extremely wealthy, or the female is extremely f'd up. So my daughter goes with her mom.

Nine years later my ex is so self-absorbed that she virtually ignores her little girl. Now the school steps in with constant, subtle entreaties to the kids that the can "feel free to confide in the counselors". "They're here to help you". So my daughter relates how miserable her home life is. The school counselor dogmatically reports her findings to a district psychiatrist who starts the "Prozac Express" (actually, what she prescribed was Zoloft). I met with all of the principles and attempted to refocus on the systemic problem - her home life - all without any measurable success. The "professionals" wanted to pat me on the touchie and send me on my way: "I can assure you, Mr. Rockrr, that there are ALMOST no negative effects from the use of these psychotropic drugs".
The mother was reluctant at first to go with the treatment, but eventually folded (she could see the merit in a compliant child), leaving me to defend my daughter's health and well-being.

Things got to the point where a COURT ORDER was bandied about, when the most curious thing happened. My ex, gainfully employed and properly insured, had been suggesting to the school system that she was poverty-bound and in need of special services. The State of Washington came to me to pay the tab and, in their inimitable fashion, harassed me until I PROVED that my ex was subverting the system (of course she suffered no recriminations whatsoever). But, in the intervening time, the state chose to withhold services to my daughter. Services which amounted to force-feeding psychotropic, ADDICTIVE drugs to my child, against the express wishes of her parent. My daughter dodged a bullet because the state was now focused on punishing ME!

I place the weight of responsibility for the overuse and inordinate prescription of these drugs on the most innocent of victims squarely one the "mental Health Professionals".

A pox on them.