Quote:
Originally Posted by
kiteki 
I don't like the lung-failure part, that sounds nasty.
I think more people are more depressed today than 100 years ago.
Hypothetically, if you went to a foreign country and people seemed more depressed than your hometown, would you think the solution is handing out pills to them? Lol.
Has there ever been a political agenda, to prescribe more pills? I don't think so.
Just to clarify, I'm definitely not in favor of handing out pills. I think psychoactive medication is over-prescribed and used as a quick fix when a lot of people would be better served having the underlying causes of their problems targeted. I think there are some legitimate cases where medication is needed, as when people are psychotic or have debilitating symptoms that can't be controlled easily without it. Ultimately it comes down to what is optimal for the individual patient in providing the best possible quality of life for him or her.
As for a political agenda for pills, hell if I know. Some would argue that governments are buddy-buddy with pharmaceutical industries in keeping people on medication to give them profits. You know, the whole "curing diseases isn't profitable" thing. Apparently they want repeat customers, so there's no incentive to cure them. Or so the story goes. I'm not sure if I buy that though.
Honestly, you're talking to someone who teaches ancient philosophy and literature for a living. I definitely think the modern age has its fair share of problems, and that our concept of 'happiness' is a bit skewed now. Overmedication is only part of that materialistic bent.