Medication Culture

Young, Assured and Playing Pharmacist to Friends - New York Times reports how the medication culture in the US contributes to the drug culture. There has evolved a view of psychology and health as problems that can be solved with pills. Certain feelings indicate the use of certain pills. Taking medications to perform better academically occurs from elementary through graduate school. The experiences are shared by trading medications and passing medications on to others. Examples are given of individuals who bounce from Xanax to Ritalin to Adderall to Prozac to alcohol and cocaine.

The most overmedicated group of people in the world are senior citizens in the US. Medicare will now help pay this bill, which will become much larger. Not to worry that a large number of children lead unhealthy lifestyles and do not receive proper care. Oh, well, the kids can always be put on drugs. It will not make them any healthier but they may feel better and contribute to sales for the pharmaceutical companies.