One in six U.S. adults takes a psychiatric drug, study says

[Sunlei]

MONDAY, Dec. 12, 2016 -- One in six U.S. adults takes a psychiatric medication to cope with conditions such as depression, anxiety and insomnia, a new study finds.

Researchers found that in 2013 nearly 17 percent of adults said they filled one or more prescriptions for antidepressants such as Zoloft; sedatives and sleep drugs, including Xanax and Ambien; or antipsychotics, used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Because most prescriptions for these drugs are written by primary care physicians, not psychiatrists, patients aren't getting the mental health care they need, one specialist said

Whites were about twice as likely to use these medications (21 percent) as blacks and Hispanic adults. Just 5 percent of Asians said they had taken them, according to the study. The researchers said they couldn't explain why whites are so much more likely to use these medications

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2016/12/12/One-in-six-US-adults-takes-a-psychiatric-drug-study-says/3651481594101/

[raccoon]

1. Two possibilities: One, that these drugs are being overprescribed.

(And yes, I know, some people HAVE to have them in order to function.)

Or that something is seriously wrong with the society.

[pnwmom]

2. A third possibility is that fewer people are drinking alcohol all day long.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31741615

Early Americans even took a healthful dram for breakfast, whiskey was a typical lunchtime tipple, ale accompanied supper and the day ended with a nightcap. Continuous imbibing clearly built up a tolerance as most Americans in 1790 consumed an average 5.8 gallons of pure alcohol a year.
"We think of that as an astounding amount - you would think people would be staggering around drunk, but most people were able to handle their alcohol because it was integrated into daily life." says Bustard.


This was also a period when most people were working in the fields which presumably didn't require much focus. And living in a tight knit community meant people could keep an eye on each other and intervene if somebody was thought to be overdoing it. Even so, modern Americans look quite abstemious by comparison, consuming only two gallons of pure alcohol per year.

In 1830, consumption peaked at 7.1 gallons a year and drinking became a moral issue.

[canetoad]

3. I don't see the connection

Between stats from the 18th and 19th centuries and the statement made in the OP.

[pnwmom]

4. I think in earlier generations more people self-medicated with alcohol.

People with depression and anxiety, for example. Now there are more drug options for treatment.

I don't think it's a coincidence that we have a high use of drugs like Prozac and a relatively low use of alcohol.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1357892/U-S-drinks-lowest-alcohol-developed-world-figures-reveal.html

U.S. drinks the lowest amount of alcohol in the developed world, figures reveal


http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/alcohol-and-depresssion#1

Nearly one-third of people with major depression also have an alcohol problem. Often, the depression comes first. Research shows that depressed kids are more likely to have problems with alcohol a few years down the road. Also, teens who've had a bout of major depression are twice as likely to start drinking as those who haven’t.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/08/01/alcohol.anxiety.risky.health/

Many people who experience chronic feelings of anxiety about social situations, work and relationships, or other aspects of everyday life often reach for a beer or a glass of wine to quell their unease.

SNIP

Self-medication for anxiety symptoms is common. In the study, which included a nationally representative sample of 34,653 American adults, 13% of the people who had consumed alcohol or drugs in the previous year said they'd done so to reduce their anxiety, fear, or panic about a situation.

An even greater proportion, roughly one-quarter, said they had similarly self-medicated with drugs. (Detailed data on the drug use was not available, but Bolton says most people were probably using prescription sedatives -- such as Xanax -- without a prescription, rather than using marijuana or illegal drugs.)

[get the red out]

5. I hadn't thought of that!

Even today, with the availability of mental health medications, many people abuse alcohol or illegal drugs as a way of "self-medicating".

Personally, I think an MD prescribing meds like this is OK. Therapy can be difficult to get for various reasons. Mental Health care will have to become more accessible and acceptable to change the care people get. The stigma kept me suffering for a very long time, I wanted to be "pure" and pretend that a "spiritual path" had relieved me of my life-long battle with anxiety and depression, but thinking about suicide for long periods of time indicated an issue with me. I first asked my MD for help, then got brave enough for therapy. I couldn't have dealt with therapy work without medication.

Also, I believe stigma and lack of available meds caused many people in previous generations to not receive mental healthcare when needed, which resulted in their kids being brought up by a parent with untreated mental illness, which can cause trauma, which can wire someone for poor mental health themselves. Rinse repeat. (This was my mom, mentally ill Dad for her, mentally ill mom for me and my sister).

My own experience clouds me, I know, but I think there are a lot of factors at play, and this situation is very complex.

[pnwmom]

7. Many people still do and yet this article

says that the US has the lowest rate of alcohol consumption in the developed world.

I feel as you do that many people do benefit from these medications; and for many people they are a much better option than using alcohol to address these symptoms -- which is all most people had till the first anti-depressants were developed.

There were a couple alcoholics in the older generation of our families and I've often thought that it was too bad that these meds weren't available then, because it was obvious they dealt with depression and anxiety.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1357892/U-S-drinks-lowest-alcohol-developed-world-figures-reveal.html

U.S. drinks the lowest amount of alcohol in the developed world, figures reveal

[get the red out]

8. Well, evangelicals

Extremist Christians don't drink, that adds in, I am sure.

[pnwmom]

9. In any case

I'm glad whenever I hear that people got the help they needed -- and there should be no stigma in that, though I know people often feel it. As I said, I think people have always dealt with anxiety and depression, but until fairly recently people just self-medicated with alcohol. Now we have more options.

Good luck in your healing.

[Sunlei]

14. people are over medicated & many are addicted to medicine by their own Doctors.

drug corporations should pay for American healthcare system out of their massive profits.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. Fine. Just as long as they don't smoke any weed.

Remember, "good people don't smoke marijuana"

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

10. I may need to be put on one now that Donny Tiny Hands sposedly won the election...

Have a hard time sleeping at night... even harder getting out of bed knowing that the Orange Fuhrer will be running this country.

[Delphinus]

11. I hear you.

[Javaman]

12. I have never taken a illegal drug in my life, but...

I have decided that I want to try acid when I'm 80 years old.

however, now that the orange jerk is prezzz, I may try it sooner.

[Sunlei]

16. you'll love it, just make sure you're home relaxed with music & fun, and turn off phones.

[CanSocDem]

13. They get an early start.

The issue of administering drugs to rambunctious students has been discussed before but this is a good reminder of the consequences of prescribing Ritalin to students who, quite rightly, lose their focus in a classroom. Whether or not the drug actually treats 'the condition', or whether or not 'the condition' requires treatment, is secondary to the problem of having an institution that is mandated to AFFECT BEHAVIOR.

In the spirit of full disclosure I admit to treating ALL my health issues with cannabis. The only time I feel depressed is when I log into DU and read threads celebrating the medical industry.


.

[Bucky]

15. Doped, Duped, and Donalded America. These are the worst of times...

I hope

[cwydro]

17. Running is my drug.

But chemicals look more enticing every day.

Sigh.

[raccoon]

18. As some of you have said, in the past, and present, many people

self-medicated anxiety, depressions, mental illnesses with alcohol,
whereas now, thank goodness, at least some of them are being helped by
these drugs.

There's no way of knowing, I guess, but I wonder if some societies have/had higher rates of mental illnesses than others. For instance, was there less of it among the pre-Columbian Native Americans, and other societies where people lived among smaller groups than many people today.

[FarCenter]

19. They have to have something to talk about with their friends

Also, use of these drugs increased with age, with one-quarter of those 60 to 85 reportedly taking them compared to 9 percent of 18- to 39-year-olds. Women also were more likely to report using psychiatric drugs than men.

Just like they talk about their surgeries, they compare notes about the drugs they are taking.

Older white women have better access to health insurance, doctors are willing to see them and write prescriptions, the drug companies are making bank, and all their friends are taking pills of various kinds.