Posted by Mark H. on February 12, 2001, at 17:03:18
In reply to antidepressants are drugs, drugs are drugs, posted by dennis on February 11, 2001, at 15:42:53
I've said this before here, but it might bear repeating.
In the past, the "lower" classes self-medicated using alcohol, tobacco and illegal or marginal drugs; the "upper" class expected their doctors to make them feel better, regardless of the cause of their suffering; and the vast "middle" class was expected to suck it up and go to work unmedicated, no matter how they felt.
Today, millions of members of the lower and middle class are refusing to self-medicate (quitting alcohol, tobacco and completely avoiding illegal drugs) and refusing to accept the model that only the rich should be helped with serious medical problems that involve mood and thinking. Despite some problems, duly noted, I think this is a good thing.
It is tragic and bizarre that we are willing to spend billions of dollars warehousing self-medicators in prison rather than focusing on positive, medically supervised alternatives to illegal self-medication.
Best wishes,
Mark H.
poster:Mark H.
thread:53758
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010212/msgs/53823.html