do you think america is over medicated?
156412
I sure do think that America is over medicated.  I mean come on, a pill for restless legs!  It seems when someone sneezes there are 100 people ready to hand out drugs that are sometimes addictive and usually have horrible side effects (either on the body or mind).
477661
You obviously have never had a disorder bad enough to require medication. It's like asking a diabetic to relax some and make their own insulin. I do think anti-depressants are over prescribed but some people absolutely need them. People like myself.
466631
No, especially considering the fact that would make the average American a hypocrite.\n\nWhoops, already happened.
908970
ummm MOST DEFINITELY!!!  hubby is home on medical and is more agitated than he's ever been in his whole life...he used to just read the paper, but now he watches the news through the day and there's usually some new issue he's wound up about.  no wonder most of us americans are depressed.  ugh!
72697
If they are medicated, then it is not a good idea...
594921
I believe the statistic is something like 50% (I could be wrong on that) of Americans are on some type of psychtropic drug. They also say if everyone around you is nuts, take a hard look at yourself.
903504
up the meds huh?\nur question makes no sense.
1025846
I hope so. There are decent moderate people on both sides of the aisle. We've had to deal with the extremes (left and right) for too long. It'd be nice to have someone in the middle. Very few Americans are on the fringes like most of our choices have been lately.
246176
Unfortunately the drup companies & our government are "in bed together".  Drug companies are some of the biggest lobbyists in our country.  Right now it seems to be a no win situation but we have to keep our voices LOUD!!
543770
Actually we people are made to be healthy. A lot of the drugs are foisted off on us. We do not need the pills. Instead eat right and do some reasonable exercise, something physical every day, like walking. That will take care of it.
420582
Definitely.   These days, our medications are so advanced that there is a pill that can virtually target any sympton in the body.  The past 10 years for medicine has been the biggest breakthrough decade (partly due to the internet).  ADHD is actually sluggish brainwaves and as a result, many distractions come into the brain because nevers aren't traveling back and forth at a fast enough rate (totally opposite of what most people think).  And there are medications that can go exactly to those nerves and speed them up causing more focus which automatically calms a kid.  Truly amazing.   I am not saying I'm an advocate of pills at all, but if someone's quality of life is suffering,,,,maybe it's an option.  The question was about being helped so I answered accordingly!!
590706
I don't think its Americans.  Its our government. I'd say the majority of Americans want to take care of our own.  But our government seems to have other ideas.  Should we say they are un-American?  I feel ya.
1178570
Most definitely, but not in a paranoid sense. Its human nature, heirarchy, divine right. Humans are a crafty sort, when you group the crafty rich ones together, they realise how much they enjoy their lives walking (or in some cases steam rolling) over humanity. I personally believe that were all being slowly poisoned in one form or another, with the pharmaceutical companies and medical sector to benefit... check out knowmore.org and look at bayer and dow's track record alone... (The part about toxic/carcinogenic chemical legislation is scary) have a bucket and towel handy. But to answer your question less rhetoricaly, the over-population crisis is and has been slowly spiraling out of control without any form of boundaries. What better culprit than cancer to take care of that problem?  (oh, the rate of cancer a hundred years ago compared to now would definitely support that)
257971
You must be kidding. There are so many meds, on label and off label, given as psychotropic medications.
147275
i think add is highly over diagnosed and unnecesary. people will blame anything on add, when really there is usually another problem. add was not even an illness in the DSM until recently (even considering the fact that it was changed from adhd) people need to get over this whole add obsession and figure out the real problem as to why their child isn't doing well in school. if i were in school today i would probably be considered add (which i'm not)
552828
In some rare cases, yes, otherwise no.  I think that doctors need to try all other methods of behavior modification before prescribing any mind altering substance, and even then, something that is tried and true that was studied to the hilt for any adverse effects.  There are so many meds prescribed these days people are becoming immune to them and diseases don't respond anymore to meds.  I know the psychiatric meds are different but when you alter the human mind, who knows what could happen.  As it is now serotonin reuptake inhibitors and antidepressents such as Paxil now carry warnings about suicidal effects.  \n\nI think as a society we need to be more responsible for what we do, how we treat people, and take a look at ourselves.  In some extreme cases meds should be prescribed but years ago those meds didn't exist and people did ok except for the few extremes.  We need to focus more on counselling, support groups, self help, and family help for kids.  Parents need to be supportive and there for their kids not shove them off on teachers and babysitters to try to teach them appropriate human behaviorisms such as manners and responsiblity.  There's too much focus on "problem solving" why not focus on doing things the right way so there are no problems to solve?
265665
As far as the U.S. goes, I see it becoming eventually more like an oligarchy. With the "dumbing down" of the population, we will be in control of the power elite. Few people will have knowlege and power while the rest of the population is so apathetic and uneducated they won't care.\nNot accusing, just warning.