Are psychiatric drugs linked to mass murders?

[John Dibble]

I am of the opinion that we are too dependent on medication for treating psychological problems in this country - many cases could use non-drug related treatments, but those take time and people want a quick fix. Doctors need to only prescribe these drugs to people who really need it, whom other treatments will not work on. Messing around with a person's brain chemistry can be very unpredictable.

Also, this doesn't give one much faith in the FDA, which approves these drugs, now does it?

[John Dibble]

A good question is; why are so many kids having problems which cause them to need a shrink? Certainly I'm no expert on the subject, but my observation is that some kids just aren't having fun in life. For whatever reason some kids just don't fit in with others, maybe they aren't good at sports, or don't have social skills, or aren't attractive. They don't have many friends and they become lonesome and bored. If that continues long enough it leads to depression and maybe anger too. In my opinion that's where many of these shootings start. I really don't know how to fix that though.

But hasn't it always been like that?

[John Dibble]

A good question is; why are so many kids having problems which cause them to need a shrink? Certainly I'm no expert on the subject, but my observation is that some kids just aren't having fun in life. For whatever reason some kids just don't fit in with others, maybe they aren't good at sports, or don't have social skills, or aren't attractive. They don't have many friends and they become lonesome and bored. If that continues long enough it leads to depression and maybe anger too. In my opinion that's where many of these shootings start. I really don't know how to fix that though.

But hasn't it always been like that?

Maybe its just my perception John but it seems like its worse today. I Think kids were more inclined to go out and play in the days before PCs, video games.

Well, I'm an avid gamer - games are fun, and multiplayer is a great way to socialize. I was more asking about people not being accepted. I think one essential problem is that we just overmedicate - we diagnose a problem when it isn't really one worth medicating. It's a negative aspect of capitalism, doctors are willing to prescribe medicine because it's usually the cheapest and quickest way to 'cure' the problem.

[John Dibble]

A good question is; why are so many kids having problems which cause them to need a shrink? Certainly I'm no expert on the subject, but my observation is that some kids just aren't having fun in life. For whatever reason some kids just don't fit in with others, maybe they aren't good at sports, or don't have social skills, or aren't attractive. They don't have many friends and they become lonesome and bored. If that continues long enough it leads to depression and maybe anger too. In my opinion that's where many of these shootings start. I really don't know how to fix that though.

But hasn't it always been like that?

Maybe its just my perception John but it seems like its worse today. I Think kids were more inclined to go out and play in the days before PCs, video games.

Well, I'm an avid gamer - games are fun, and multiplayer is a great way to socialize. I was more asking about people not being accepted. I think one essential problem is that we just overmedicate - we diagnose a problem when it isn't really one worth medicating. It's a negative aspect of capitalism, doctors are willing to prescribe medicine because it's usually the cheapest and quickest way to 'cure' the problem.

I can't argue with aything you said, but I have to raise the question; why are so many kids being sent to the shrink in the first place. From my childhood, I cannot remember ever hearing of a single child who was seeing one. The usual treatment for a difficult child was a trip to the principal's office and possibly a close encounter with a large wooden paddle.

Well, there you go - generational difference. Many parents nowadays wouldn't even think of paddling their kids. They need to wake up and realize that the problem isn't a shrink is needed to fix - a kid is hard work, and many would prefer to blame problems on something beyond their control rather than something in their contro.

[John Dibble]

Ah yes, nothing like teaching kids that the best way to solve problems is to hit people, and that might makes right.

Err, no. Nobody ever said that. All I'm saying is that many parents would rather take an easy way out and medicate rather than use any form of discipline.