Posted by Joe Bloe on February 23, 2007, at 16:29:13
In reply to Re: Robert Whitaker, posted by Squiggles on February 23, 2007, at 13:59:45
This discussion on drugs is so multi-faceted and so difficult.
I am starting to think that reports such as Whitaker's are mostly true, but that the anti-med theses they form from their evidence can be a little extreme (not saying that Whitaker is outright anti-med, I haven't read more than one article just a minute ago). On the other hand, the drug companies are just as one-sided and extreme in their lust for profit.
To the anti-med crowd: I saw my grandfather (D. 1989) while growing up, who in retrospect, definitely suffered from pretty terrible MDD for as long as I saw him. My father told me that my great-grandfather suffered from a similar condition. It hurts me to remember seeing my grandfather miserable for most of the time I saw him alive and that today he might be able to find some relief from this. He was a very, very intelligent individual, but overcome by melancholy. I am almost certain that he could have lived a better life had he been on a little medicine.
On the other hand, meds do seem like they can be outright bad for you and that they might even have irreversible side effects. The drug companies are definitely involved with questionable to downright shady tactics to market drugs and to keep people thinking they are safe wonder drugs. The drug companies represent the flip side to the anti-med crowd: "these drugs are good for you, they correct natural imbalances, they are virtually harmless."
I am trying to find a middle ground here. On one hand, this involves recognizing that pharma companies lie and are giving a totally narrow view of their product to the public to increase sales. They are like a used car dealer who has a car on his lot with some engine and transmission problems, but who tries to sell it to the buyer as a product in perfect running condition. Like this used car dealer, their goal is sales (for profit), which can help explain why they spend 3 times more on marketing than R&D, (and of course, R&D is important to replenish your marketing department with drugs to market, just like the used car dealer needs cars to sell).
On the other hand, drugs can really improve the lives of SOME individuals in profound ways. They have improved my life to a reasonable extent.
poster:Joe Bloe
thread:735309
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070219/msgs/735461.html