Health & Society
Antidepressants and mental health, a damn billion-dollar business
The consumption of antidepressants keeps increasing in a world that looks easier for the pill than for finding the actual problem and solving it.
In 2004, the Medicines Agency carried out a study in which it made it clear that the consumption of antidepressants had increased threefold in the world. At that time we still had to suffer a worldwide recession, which was aggravated by the pandemic that the World Health Organisation pulled out from its sleeve and which submerged us all, it seems, in a mental health problem from which it only seems that we will be able to get rid of with permanent medication.
Antidepressants, easy prescription
To stick to Spain and compare data, in 1994 7,285,182 packs of antidepressants were sold in our country, in 1999 (five years later) 14,555,311 and in 2003 21,238,858 packs were prescribed. If we multiply this by the number of pills in each pack, hundreds of millions of pills were put into circulation in the national market without excessive control.
In the year 2021, when we all become mentally ill, more than 50 million packs were put into circulation.
For Jose Luis Quintana, a family doctor, “the problem is that there is a probable abuse of antidepressants”. Another of the most commonly prescribed medicines are anxiolytics, which are administered by Social Security without us being reliably warned of the possible risks. In many cases, we are even administered both drugs without an assessment of the possible side effects. Today it is clear that our cognitive system is affected and that, especially in people of a certain age, motor functions may even be impaired.
It is not a surprise that already in 2004, Julio Bobes, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Oviedo happily stated that “the higher degree of continuous training of health personnel has contributed to the early identification of mental disorders and even better management of psychotropic drugs”.
Nowadays you grow a beard, dishevel yourself and go to your GP with a grim look on your face, have a coffee to keep your blood pressure up and tell him some negative story about your life, which need not be true, and you will automatically get a diagnosis of depression, for which you will be prescribed an interesting package for which you should not read the instructions. Perhaps because among the negative effects, it is very likely that it will state that the product can lead to depression. The whiting that bites its own tail means that in the contraindications of the pills that are given for depression, you may find that they carry the same mental illness that you supposedly want to combat.
A few days ago, Alejandro Sanz, a world music star, wrote the following on Twitter, which made the alarm bells loud worldwide:
I’m not well. I don’t know if this helps but I want to say it. I’m sad and tired. In case anyone else thinks you always have to be a sea breeze or a firework on a summer night. I’m working my way through it… I’ll get to the stage…,
Mental health began to be talked about in the news, on talk shows and filled the pages of newspapers and radio programmes on the subject. I too am tired and there are days when I dont feel the sea breeze, nor jellyfish, nor mermaid, and so what?
Being sad has become enough to get drugs (antidepressants)
The pharmaceutical industries have won by a landslide when we confuse a normal state of mind – not every day is the same – with depression or mental illness. Ramon Sanchez Ocana, one of the best-known science journalists at the beginning of the century, wrote in his book El Universo de las drogas, published by Planeta:
Antidepressants, as their name suggests, are substances designed to combat depression. Normally, their undesired effects are associated with drowsiness, slowing of reflexes, loss of attention, a tendency to put on weight… The problem is that they can be abused to counteract a situation of sadness, or, as has been raised recently, to cope with a difficult situation. Some antidepressants have been referred to as “the shyness pill”. There is a risk, in today’s medicalised society, of believing that one must always be in tune and therefore, if one is not, one can resort to the chemical help of a drug”.
Antidepressants, violence and murders
It was Sanchez Ocana who wrote the above in 2004. A year earlier, at the end of August 2003, in Spain, Lieutenant Colonel and psychologist Rafael Gil de la Haza, 56, who worked in the psychiatric wing of the San Carlos military hospital in Cadiz, killed his 12-year-old daughter, Ana Gil Cordero, with one shot and then another to kill himself. The only thing everyone articulated to say was “what would go through her head”.
But while he was under the effect of psychotropic treatment, everyone agreed that he had been taciturn for several days, withdrawn into himself and that he loved his daughter in an exaggerated way. Why did all the tools at his disposal fail? Nothing, not even psychiatry is infallible. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it is hardly infallible.
A few days before the lieutenant colonel and psychologist killed his daughter, in Madrid, the Guardia Civil arrested a woman who, according to the EFE agency: …had killed her one-month-old baby in her home in Las Rozas (Madrid), and who had to be taken to a hospital to be treated for the psychiatric disorder she suffers from.
Mainstream media silenced
One of the issues that I miss in this type of news is that there is never any way of knowing clearly what type of psychotropic drugs she is taking and whether there is a link between her consumption and the homicidal ideas that trigger certain tragic events.
To conclude, allow me, in this small approach to the world of antidepressants and their consequences, to echo what Jose Carrion, Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Murcia (UMU), wrote in November 2017 in the newspaper La Verdad, in a masterful column entitled “La depresion como alarma inteligente” (Depression as an intelligent alarm):
Antidepressants, whose use is based on the idea of altered brain neurochemistry, drive psychiatric intervention, although science has demonstrated their weaknesses. Few people report being cured by antidepressants, which I suppose does not eliminate their goodness under exceptional life-threatening circumstances. But it happens that many people become dependent and, in some cases, they attract unpleasant side effects, even serious illnesses. A single dose of antidepressants can change brain architecture for almost three hours, creating disturbances in our army of neurotransmitters and a physiological cascade that floods everything. Nothing of much interest to the pharmaceutical companies, who, with their thousands of commissioned lobbyists, fund more than 70% of FDA trials, taking control of purchasing, sales, research, publications and media.
And last but not least, filmmaker Robert Manciero, who, with five Emmys from the Academy of Arts, Sciences and Television, decided to reveal in a documentary entitled Prescription: Suicide? the experiences of six children between the ages of 9 and 16 “who, after taking antidepressants, attempted suicide”. A truly surprising documentary, which premiered in 1998 in the United States, the country, along with Spain, that consumes most of these types of pills, does not leave the viewer indifferent.
Bibliography:
Datos medicamentos: el consumo de antidepresivos crece un 40% (rtve.es)
DSalud no 88 (1998)
ABC 27/12/2004 (Society)
La Opinion de Murcia 27/08/2013 (Sucesos)
El Mundo 01/09/2013 (Chronicle)
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The European Commission is getting ready to review citizens’ proposals and one controversial idea on the table is the ‘PsychedeliCare’ initiative that supports the exploration and implementation of psychedelic treatments for mental wellbeing issues. Advocates of this initiative highlight the advantages of using psychedelics in addressing mental health concerns; however it’s crucial to carefully assess the consequences of making these substances mainstream for therapeutic use, it already happened with way too many “pharma products” and end up being dangerous street drugs, as this is what they actually were from the beginning.
The Illusory Promise of Psychedelics
Supporters of this “therapies” frequently promote these substances as amazing remedies for profound mental health challenges like depression and anxiety disorders such as PTSD are regularly highlighted by them in support of their claims. However, these early research findings are willfully misinterpreted and exaggerated. The “positive outcomes” observed in limited research studies do not automatically translate to safety and effectiveness across wider and more varied demographic groups, often the contrary. Throughout history the fascination with a quick fix for mental health issues has often resulted in disappointment and harm, if not death.
A Lack of Comprehensive Understanding
The insufficient scientific knowledge about psychedelics raises concerns within the community as the intricate workings of the human brain remain a mystery when influenced by these substances. There are risks such as psychological distress and worsening of preexisting mental health conditions that make it unthinkable to integrate psychedelics into mainstream therapy practices at all. It is crucial to acknowledge the variations in individual experiences and biological compositions to prevent unintended harm rather than aiding in treatment efforts.
Regulatory and Ethical Concerns
The push for government endorsement of psychedelic therapies raises numerous ethical questions. Should substances with known psychoactive properties be part of mainstream health care? The regulatory environment surrounding these compounds is fraught with challenges, including ensuring quality control, standardizing dosages, and preventing misuse. With the legalization movements in various regions, the potential for recreational abuse expands, risking public health and safety.
Historical Context and Social Implications
Looking back, the late 1960s and early 1970s were marked by a psychedelic counterculture that resulted in societal turmoil and increased drug abuse. The legacy of this era still looms large; many young individuals romanticize psychedelic use without regarding the severe consequences that accompanied its earlier popularity, including addiction, mental health crises, and a societal disregard for safety protocols.
A Dangerous Precedent
By calling for a more prominent role for psychedelics in treatment protocols, the advocates of the ‘PsychedeliCare’ initiative may unintentionally set a dangerous precedent. Replacing established, evidence-based treatments with unproven psychedelic therapies could detract from the very real progress made in mental health care. It could shift focus away from holistic approaches that consider lifestyle, therapeutic counseling, and medication tailored to individual needs.
Conclusion
The debate surrounding the ‘PsychedeliCare’ initiative should prompt a vigilant and cautious examination of the implications of endorsing psychedelics as treatment options. While there is a critical need for innovative approaches in mental health care, rushing to embrace unproven therapies poses significant risks. It is paramount that we prioritize rigorous scientific scrutiny, ethical considerations, and the well-being of individuals over the allure of quick solutions. The only clear path forward is one grounded in proven therapies, comprehensive research, and unwavering commitment to public health.
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Chocolate is a favorite delicacy for people, but for cats and dogs it is a real poison, writes the magazine ” Sciences et Avenir” and explains why pets should not be “pampered” with chocolate under any circumstances.
For them, chocolate is toxic, because it is not properly absorbed by their body. This is due to the alkaloid theobromine, which is contained in cocoa and therefore in chocolate.
The substance becomes dangerous to health when large amounts of it are stored in the liver. About 12 grams of theobromine are contained in dark chocolate, twice as much in milk chocolate, and very small amounts in white chocolate.
Theobromine does not harm humans, as the human body manages to break it down quickly.
However, it takes 20 hours for dogs to get rid of this molecule. It can build up in their liver and cause poisoning if large amounts of chocolate are ingested at once.
Among the symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, rapid pulse, convulsions.
The same is true for cats. However, they are less attracted to chocolate than dogs because they cannot taste sweets with their tongues, although there are exceptions.
In addition, pet obesity is the subject of a number of educational campaigns aimed at owners.
A court in North West England has banned a British man from keeping pets for the next 10 years because his Dalmatian became too fat. wrote the English tabloid “Sun” in November 2009.
40-year-old man John Green, a resident of Macclesfield in Cheshire, showed extreme irresponsibility towards his dog Barney and fed him chips and chocolate.
Thus, in just three months, it became several times fatter than normal for its breed and reached 70 kg.
Green was tipped off by alarmed, vigilant fellow citizens.
Animal control officials warned Green that his dog’s health was in danger and recommended that he be put on a diet.
However, he did not follow the recommendations and the dog continued to gain weight.
The Dalmatian was eventually removed from his owner’s home in June and put on a diet in a private kennel, where staff made sure he got enough exercise.
As a result, Barney, who is eight years old, lost 40 kg.
Green pleaded guilty to causing his dog unnecessary suffering, but the court found some mitigating circumstances because the man treated Barney more like a friend than a dog and did not realize he was harming him.
That’s why Green was only sentenced to 200 hours of community service and to pay £780 in costs.
Illustrative Photo by Glenn: https://www.pexels.com/photo/high-angle-photo-of-a-corgi-looking-upwards-2664417/
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Health & Society
Russian Orthodox Church calls on mass culture to abandon ‘images promoting alcoholism’
On the occasion of the Day of Sobriety celebrated in the country today, the Russian Orthodox Church called on mass culture not to promote alcoholism, TASS reported.
The agency recalls that the All-Russian Day of Sobriety is celebrated on the initiative of the Russian Orthodox Church on September 11 to remind people of the harm caused by alcohol. On this day, in some parts of Russia, the sale of alcohol is limited or completely prohibited.
“The culture of attitude towards this is very important. There are many “nice jokes” about alcoholism in our everyday culture. There is nothing good about that. We know what the state of intoxication leads to. Those who deal with mass culture should make an effort that the image of the “dear drunkard” should still leave our mass culture,” said the head of the synodal department of the Moscow Patriarchate for Church Interaction on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg Forum of United Cultures with society and media Vladimir Legoida.
Asked whether it would be appropriate to ban or restrict the sale of alcohol across the country, he said “that would be wonderful”. “But it is important that people do this consciously, independently, not because someone is forcing them, and also that there is, as it is customary to say, a public consensus,” he stated.
Legoida noted that the category of “sobriety” is important for the church in general, which refers not only to abstinence from alcohol.
Meanwhile, during a press conference dedicated to the All-Russian Day of Sobriety, Russia’s Deputy Health Minister Oleg Salagai said that alcohol abuse can reduce a man’s life expectancy by six years and a woman by five years.
“The systemic measures that were adopted allowed us to really reduce alcohol consumption. Today, it can be confidently said that Russia is not one of the most drinking countries in the world,” said the deputy minister, who pointed out that in 2023 alcohol consumption in the country was about 8.4 liters per person, while at the beginning of the century the indicator was in double digits.
Illustrative Photo by EVG Kowalievska: https://www.pexels.com/photo/selective-focus-photography-of-assorted-brand-liquor-bottles-1128259/
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