Medicated American

The Medicated Americans Many people in the United States take prescription drug for either a physical illness or psychiatric illness. The amount of prescribed drugs given has grown exponentially throughout the years. The author, Charles Barber, states that 10 percent of men and women are using prescription drugs that are struggling with depression. Americans are more susceptible to taking prescription drugs than therapy with a psychiatrist. A study conducted by the New England Research Institute found that 43 percent of people who are prescribed drugs do not have a psychiatric diagnosis or any mental health care. There is increasing evidence of doctors prescribing medication without sufficient cause or care. Many of the doctors do not even discuss the side effects that go along with the drugs. The amount of psychiatric therapy has decreased over the years and the amount of prescription drugs taken have increased. There is a difference between an episode of depression and chronic depression, or severe depression. Almost everyone will face obstacles in life and many will experience sadness. But people are beginning to confuse life problems with a mental disorder. Robert Spitzer of Columbia revised DSM-III. He chose to use the term “disorder”, a vague and general word, to describe mental diagnoses. With a term that generalizes almost every malady, many consider themselves to have a “disorder” even when there are no signs of mental illness. This article exposes the truth on how dependent Americans are to drugs. Doctors, drug companies, and even health insurance companies are to blame for the increasing number of prescribed drug. Instead of using therapy, that could work as equally as well as a drug, these people would rather take the easy and convenient way and prescribe a drug. Users of the drug should take more precaution and research the drug, also ask questions to the doctor. Just because one is sad, does not mean that person has depression. People