Depression drugs and the millions that use them.
 

I forget where I heard it (i think from bill mahar on hbo), but I guess around 2 million young'ns (18 and under i believe) are on some sort of depression drug(s).

People need to learn to deal with their problems, depression is a natural way of LIFE that is meant to be dealt with without the use of fucking drugs. It's a process that helps develop character.

And the parents who put their children on these drugs are complete absolute morons who deserve a giant ass kicking. Your child is depressed eh? How about try some better parenting? How about knocking some sense into his ignorant head that life isn't always cheerful.

Yes there are the few cases where a kid might actually really have some serious problems, but I highly doubt even 1% of those 2 million kids on drugs have a significant problem.

Talk about a great way to get your kid dependant on worse drugs in the future, geesh.

And for the estimated 16 million adults, c'moff it. Deal with it, do what it takes to make yourself happy. Analyze your situation, don't be weak and resort to these stupid depression drugs. Yeah, it's hard, I'm sure, but it'll make you stronger. Be yourself.

not interesting

Watch Garden State, good movie, not exactly about this issue, but it does touch on something similar in a way. Anyway its a movie worth watching either way :thumbsup

I was on anti depressants for 3 years and I NEEDED them. They kept me able to function as a human being and not try to kill myself.

My 2cents.

However once you hit a certain point I think you become dependant. I was safe to come off a year ago so I did.

I had a lack of seratonin in my brain. Depression runs in the family. My mom has it, grandpa has it, my great grandma shot herself in the head in front of my 7 year old grandpa.

:)

Agreed!
I was on them for two years, and yes my parents and counselor put me on them, but what else were they supposed to do with me. How are you gonna slap sense into a stubborn teenager. Props to you Brad, for being stable enough to come off of them. It's hard stuff

It is obvious that you do not know of someone who needed anti-depression drugs. I do believe the drugs are a quick fix for many and are over prescribed. They seem to be the "in" thing to do. However, they are a life saver for some people where "just deal with it" is not a possiblity. There are those that just have a chemical imbalance and no amount of "dealing with it" will help. I would never recommend anyone under the age of 18 be put on the drug except in extreme situations. Being in the health care field I have seen situations where the drugs were not only a life saver for them, but also gave them a quality of life that was impossible without them

I went thru depression in HS, dealt with it somehow with no drugs

Thanks Arika. It was actually Vegas internext. I decided it was time to go off. It was a long time I was on.... but I was a disturbed person. Violent mood swings, extreme random depression.. hate aggression etc.

You always end up hurting the ones you love.

For someone who has never been on anti-depressants, you're not much of a first hand witness so it makes it hard to see both sides.
When you turn bipolar and severly depressed let me know so I can say "now you know how those kids feel"

While I agree a LOT of them are just on them like the parents who put normal kids on ritalin... I think there are a lot of fucked up people out there and parents only want the best for their kids. And a lot of parents dont even know until they come to the hospital to find their kid 1 shot away from a vegetable due to a massive seizure. :)

I have no problem with people who need it. But out of those 16 million adults, and 2 million kids, seriously, with how insanely obsessive americans are about popping pills and looking for the easy way out, it's abused, misused, and not needed by WELL over the majority.

Just like with people who go to the extremes of liposuction and/or gastric surgery, most don't *need* it.

absolutely fair enough :)

I agree some probably do not need it, but if one was found in a hospital because they tried to kill themself, with (in there thoughts) no way out. MAYBE they do need it :2 cents:

I agree. To me, giving mind altering drugs to your children is one of the worst crimes you can commit. Learn how to be a parent, find some better teachers, do whatever it takes to keep from doping up your defenseless child. As an adult I don't care what drugs you enjoy yourself, but don't give them to your kid because some underinformed guidance counselor tells you to and because the teachers are mad that your kid won't shut up.

I read an article recently about a shrink who regularly prescribes these drugs to kids in kindergarten, and has given them to kids as young as THREE. She should be in jail IMO. They have no idea what the long term affects of these drugs are on adults, let alone kids.

All of the kids who go nuts and kill other kids are on anti depressants. All of them. A ton of kids on them also them commit suicide.