mind drugs: a primer
Question:
Ice is crystal meth MDMA is now known as Ecstasy "Gordo Mondragon" <ga_mondra…@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ga_mondragon-307F89.19270531052005@nycmny-nntp-rdr-03-ge1.rdc-nyc.rr.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> In article <eh2ne.19160$HI.8@edtnps84>, > "Cactus Jammies" <n…@joshuatree.nemor> wrote: > > You know, speaking of B.C., there are a small number of teen and pre-teen > > Ice intervention centres using marijuana as the replacement drug that seems > > to substitute adequately for Ice (MDMA) and coincidental alcohol addiction. > I think that "Ice" is methamphetamine, not MDMA.
Response:
"Gordo Mondragon" <ga_mondra…@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ga_mondragon-A4445C.19301731052005@nycmny-nntp-rdr-03-ge1.rdc-nyc.rr.com… > You know, over-prescription of psychotropic drugs is a fact, but > preaching that in a Hep C newsgroup where these drugs can make a > difference between getting through the treatment and achieving a cure or > not seems to me to be putting your personal agenda ahead of what’s going > to help people. I personally don’t think that’s a good thing.
Thanks, Gordo. I agreed with the post, but there was something bothering me about it. You put into words what I couldn’t quite figure out. Waterspider
Response:
this may be yet another troll, Gordo! del sci.med cj <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< "Gordo Mondragon" <ga_mondra…@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ga_mondragon-A4445C.19301731052005@nycmny-nntp-rdr-03-ge1.rdc-nyc.rr.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You know, over-prescription of psychotropic drugs is a fact, but > preaching that in a Hep C newsgroup where these drugs can make a > difference between getting through the treatment and achieving a cure or > not seems to me to be putting your personal agenda ahead of what’s going > to help people. I personally don’t think that’s a good thing. > In article <1117563163.664034.83…@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>, > "outrider" <outri…@despammed.com> wrote: >> http://www.shared-vision.com/2005/sv1806/minddrugs1806.html >> A Dragonfly Media Publication >> June 2005 | Whole Health >> Mind Drugs: a Primer >> by Alicia Priest >> Anyone with a pulse should now be familiar with the SSRI scandal. >> That’s the sordid saga that came to light in late 2003 concerning the >> antidepressant medicines known as selective serotonin reuptake >> inhibitors. >> In brief, it’s a tragic tale of corporate corruption and greed and >> government neglect at the expense of public health. SSRI drugs, which >> affect chemical messages in the brain and nervous system, were given to >> children and teens with the full knowledge of one of the manufacturers, >> GlaxoSmithKline, that their product could increase a patient’s chance >> of becoming suicidal. Yet these drugs-such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, >> and Celexa-were prescribed for everything from depression to >> bed-wetting, anxiety, and insomnia. Furthermore, many of the SSRI >> trials show little, if any, benefit in treating depression in children. >> This incident illustrates many worthy things but one that screams out >> to be heard is how little medical science knows about how the >> brain/mind works, while at the same time putting more people on >> brain/mind drugs than ever. >> In 2003, almost one-quarter of women in B.C. were prescribed an SSRI. >> Between 1996 and 2002, antidepressant use in the province increased by >> 73 per cent. Use of benzodiazepines-such as Ativan, Valium, and >> Serax-increased in B.C. by 11 per cent. >> Into this morass enters a little 38-page pamphlet that may pack a big >> punch. What People Need to Know about Psychiatric Drugs is written and >> published by Janet Currie and Daisy Anderson, two Vancouver Island >> women who are part of a group called the Psychiatric Medication >> Awareness Group. Currie, of Victoria, is a social-policy consultant and >> author of Manufacturing Addiction: the Over-Prescription of >> Benzodiazepines and Sleeping Pills to Women in Canada, a 2004 paper >> published by the B.C. Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health. >> Anderson, of Duncan, is a retired nurse and mental-health worker who >> struggled with psychiatric-drug addiction for 40 years. >> In plain language, the booklet lays out basic information about why >> people may be advised to take a psychiatric drug, the major classes of >> mind drugs, their chemical and brand names, the most common and/or >> serious side effects, and issues such as tolerance and dependency. As >> well, it contains assorted facts, such as "There are no blood tests >> or brain X-rays which can diagnose schizophrenia." The publication >> includes a short list of books and websites for more information. Its >> basic message, however, is that mind drugs are extremely potent and >> need to be taken with great caution. >> Psychiatry is the medical specialty most deeply into drugs. Mind >> medicines include antidepressants, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, >> anti-psychotics, stimulants, and mood stabilizers. No doubt some >> enhance quality of life and some may even save lives, but in many other >> cases, they do great harm. For instance, tranquillizers are highly >> addictive and although designed for short-term use to treat anxiety, >> stress, and sleeplessness are often taken for years, resulting in >> disturbing side effects such as loss of balance, confusion, and >> depression. Doctors can set off a "prescription cascade" by >> treating these untoward effects with more drugs that cause yet more >> nasty symptoms, which are then treated by-you guessed it-more >> drugs. >> It’s also disturbing that no one really knows the long-term effects >> of taking these drugs for many years. How could they? According to this >> pamphlet, clinical trials that test such drugs often last only four to >> six weeks. >> The misuse and overuse of psychiatric drugs, Currie says, is a huge >> public health issue and should be treated as such. Yet there is no >> formal acknowledgement of the problem. >> "These drugs really cause tremendous grief in people’s lives and I >> think they kill and leave more people damaged than many street drug >> addictions," she says. >> Sometime back in the early 1960s, psychiatry changed its focus from >> psychoanalytical to biological, Currie says. That move means an >> increasingly wider range of mental and emotional conditions are being >> treated with drugs on the grounds that they are caused by biochemical >> imbalances. >> "A lot of this is scientifically not proven," Currie says. "For >> example, the serotonin-deficiency theory that was promoted by the drug >> companies around [SSRI drugs]. I’ve had people tell me ‘I have a >> deficiency of a brain chemical; therefore, I need to take this drug.’ >> It’s scientific hogwash." >> Curries hopes anyone reading the booklet will come away with three main >> points: if you are on a psychiatric drug, never go off it on your own; >> if you are discontinuing the drug, be prepared for withdrawal symptoms; >> if you are concerned about the drug’s side effects, discuss them with >> an informed health-care specialist. >> To get a copy of the booklet, see link above.
Response:
I think you’re roght, thanks Cactus Jammies ================= "Gordo Mondragon" <ga_mondra…@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ga_mondragon-307F89.19270531052005@nycmny-nntp-rdr-03-ge1.rdc-nyc.rr.com… > In article <eh2ne.19160$HI.8@edtnps84>, > "Cactus Jammies" <n…@joshuatree.nemor> wrote:
>> teen and pre-teen >> Ice intervention centres using marijuana as the replacement drug that >> seems >> to substitute adequately for Ice (MDMA) and coincidental alcohol >> addiction. > I think that "Ice" is methamphetamine, not MDMA.
<g>
Response:
You know, over-prescription of psychotropic drugs is a fact, but preaching that in a Hep C newsgroup where these drugs can make a difference between getting through the treatment and achieving a cure or not seems to me to be putting your personal agenda ahead of what’s going to help people. I personally don’t think that’s a good thing. In article <1117563163.664034.83…@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text - "outrider" <outri…@despammed.com> wrote: > http://www.shared-vision.com/2005/sv1806/minddrugs1806.html > A Dragonfly Media Publication > June 2005 | Whole Health > Mind Drugs: a Primer > by Alicia Priest > Anyone with a pulse should now be familiar with the SSRI scandal. > That’s the sordid saga that came to light in late 2003 concerning the > antidepressant medicines known as selective serotonin reuptake > inhibitors. > In brief, it’s a tragic tale of corporate corruption and greed and > government neglect at the expense of public health. SSRI drugs, which > affect chemical messages in the brain and nervous system, were given to > children and teens with the full knowledge of one of the manufacturers, > GlaxoSmithKline, that their product could increase a patient’s chance > of becoming suicidal. Yet these drugs-such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, > and Celexa-were prescribed for everything from depression to > bed-wetting, anxiety, and insomnia. Furthermore, many of the SSRI > trials show little, if any, benefit in treating depression in children. > This incident illustrates many worthy things but one that screams out > to be heard is how little medical science knows about how the > brain/mind works, while at the same time putting more people on > brain/mind drugs than ever. > In 2003, almost one-quarter of women in B.C. were prescribed an SSRI. > Between 1996 and 2002, antidepressant use in the province increased by > 73 per cent. Use of benzodiazepines-such as Ativan, Valium, and > Serax-increased in B.C. by 11 per cent. > Into this morass enters a little 38-page pamphlet that may pack a big > punch. What People Need to Know about Psychiatric Drugs is written and > published by Janet Currie and Daisy Anderson, two Vancouver Island > women who are part of a group called the Psychiatric Medication > Awareness Group. Currie, of Victoria, is a social-policy consultant and > author of Manufacturing Addiction: the Over-Prescription of > Benzodiazepines and Sleeping Pills to Women in Canada, a 2004 paper > published by the B.C. Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health. > Anderson, of Duncan, is a retired nurse and mental-health worker who > struggled with psychiatric-drug addiction for 40 years. > In plain language, the booklet lays out basic information about why > people may be advised to take a psychiatric drug, the major classes of > mind drugs, their chemical and brand names, the most common and/or > serious side effects, and issues such as tolerance and dependency. As > well, it contains assorted facts, such as "There are no blood tests > or brain X-rays which can diagnose schizophrenia." The publication > includes a short list of books and websites for more information. Its > basic message, however, is that mind drugs are extremely potent and > need to be taken with great caution. > Psychiatry is the medical specialty most deeply into drugs. Mind > medicines include antidepressants, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, > anti-psychotics, stimulants, and mood stabilizers. No doubt some > enhance quality of life and some may even save lives, but in many other > cases, they do great harm. For instance, tranquillizers are highly > addictive and although designed for short-term use to treat anxiety, > stress, and sleeplessness are often taken for years, resulting in > disturbing side effects such as loss of balance, confusion, and > depression. Doctors can set off a "prescription cascade" by > treating these untoward effects with more drugs that cause yet more > nasty symptoms, which are then treated by-you guessed it-more > drugs. > It’s also disturbing that no one really knows the long-term effects > of taking these drugs for many years. How could they? According to this > pamphlet, clinical trials that test such drugs often last only four to > six weeks. > The misuse and overuse of psychiatric drugs, Currie says, is a huge > public health issue and should be treated as such. Yet there is no > formal acknowledgement of the problem. > "These drugs really cause tremendous grief in people’s lives and I > think they kill and leave more people damaged than many street drug > addictions," she says. > Sometime back in the early 1960s, psychiatry changed its focus from > psychoanalytical to biological, Currie says. That move means an > increasingly wider range of mental and emotional conditions are being > treated with drugs on the grounds that they are caused by biochemical > imbalances. > "A lot of this is scientifically not proven," Currie says. "For > example, the serotonin-deficiency theory that was promoted by the drug > companies around [SSRI drugs]. I’ve had people tell me ‘I have a > deficiency of a brain chemical; therefore, I need to take this drug.’ > It’s scientific hogwash." > Curries hopes anyone reading the booklet will come away with three main > points: if you are on a psychiatric drug, never go off it on your own; > if you are discontinuing the drug, be prepared for withdrawal symptoms; > if you are concerned about the drug’s side effects, discuss them with > an informed health-care specialist. > To get a copy of the booklet, see link above.
Response:
Therapy works. It costs money, too.
Response:
In article <eh2ne.19160$HI.8@edtnps84>, "Cactus Jammies" <n…@joshuatree.nemor> wrote: > You know, speaking of B.C., there are a small number of teen and pre-teen > Ice intervention centres using marijuana as the replacement drug that seems > to substitute adequately for Ice (MDMA) and coincidental alcohol addiction.
I think that "Ice" is methamphetamine, not MDMA.
Response:
You know, speaking of B.C., there are a small number of teen and pre-teen Ice intervention centres using marijuana as the replacement drug that seems to substitute adequately for Ice (MDMA) and coincidental alcohol addiction. It seems to be working. Whatever tough steps were reqired for the intervention in the first place obviously left a number of candidates that qualified for the replacement marijuana therapy. It has litterally slowed these young folks down, and with raging hormones developing full personalities at that stage of life, it is a qualified success, from what spin I’ve heard. Also similar programs from the suburban youth intervention centres in some eastern US cities. Desire to kill the addictions and handle the pressures is paramount of course. <deleted the copy to sci.med group address> Cactus Jammies BC resident /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ////////// "outrider" <outri…@despammed.com> wrote in message
news:1117563163.664034.83080@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> http://www.shared-vision.com/2005/sv1806/minddrugs1806.html > A Dragonfly Media Publication > June 2005 | Whole Health > Mind Drugs: a Primer > by Alicia Priest > Anyone with a pulse should now be familiar with the SSRI scandal. > That’s the sordid saga that came to light in late 2003 concerning the > antidepressant medicines known as selective serotonin reuptake > inhibitors. > In brief, it’s a tragic tale of corporate corruption and greed and > government neglect at the expense of public health. SSRI drugs, which > affect chemical messages in the brain and nervous system, were given to > children and teens with the full knowledge of one of the manufacturers, > GlaxoSmithKline, that their product could increase a patient’s chance > of becoming suicidal. Yet these drugs-such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, > and Celexa-were prescribed for everything from depression to > bed-wetting, anxiety, and insomnia. Furthermore, many of the SSRI > trials show little, if any, benefit in treating depression in children. > This incident illustrates many worthy things but one that screams out > to be heard is how little medical science knows about how the > brain/mind works, while at the same time putting more people on > brain/mind drugs than ever. > In 2003, almost one-quarter of women in B.C. were prescribed an SSRI. > Between 1996 and 2002, antidepressant use in the province increased by > 73 per cent. Use of benzodiazepines-such as Ativan, Valium, and > Serax-increased in B.C. by 11 per cent. > Into this morass enters a little 38-page pamphlet that may pack a big > punch. What People Need to Know about Psychiatric Drugs is written and > published by Janet Currie and Daisy Anderson, two Vancouver Island > women who are part of a group called the Psychiatric Medication > Awareness Group. Currie, of Victoria, is a social-policy consultant and > author of Manufacturing Addiction: the Over-Prescription of > Benzodiazepines and Sleeping Pills to Women in Canada, a 2004 paper > published by the B.C. Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health. > Anderson, of Duncan, is a retired nurse and mental-health worker who > struggled with psychiatric-drug addiction for 40 years. > In plain language, the booklet lays out basic information about why > people may be advised to take a psychiatric drug, the major classes of > mind drugs, their chemical and brand names, the most common and/or > serious side effects, and issues such as tolerance and dependency. As > well, it contains assorted facts, such as "There are no blood tests > or brain X-rays which can diagnose schizophrenia." The publication > includes a short list of books and websites for more information. Its > basic message, however, is that mind drugs are extremely potent and > need to be taken with great caution. > Psychiatry is the medical specialty most deeply into drugs. Mind > medicines include antidepressants, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, > anti-psychotics, stimulants, and mood stabilizers. No doubt some > enhance quality of life and some may even save lives, but in many other > cases, they do great harm. For instance, tranquillizers are highly > addictive and although designed for short-term use to treat anxiety, > stress, and sleeplessness are often taken for years, resulting in > disturbing side effects such as loss of balance, confusion, and > depression. Doctors can set off a "prescription cascade" by > treating these untoward effects with more drugs that cause yet more > nasty symptoms, which are then treated by-you guessed it-more > drugs. > It’s also disturbing that no one really knows the long-term effects > of taking these drugs for many years. How could they? According to this > pamphlet, clinical trials that test such drugs often last only four to > six weeks. > The misuse and overuse of psychiatric drugs, Currie says, is a huge > public health issue and should be treated as such. Yet there is no > formal acknowledgement of the problem. > "These drugs really cause tremendous grief in people’s lives and I > think they kill and leave more people damaged than many street drug > addictions," she says. > Sometime back in the early 1960s, psychiatry changed its focus from > psychoanalytical to biological, Currie says. That move means an > increasingly wider range of mental and emotional conditions are being > treated with drugs on the grounds that they are caused by biochemical > imbalances. > "A lot of this is scientifically not proven," Currie says. "For > example, the serotonin-deficiency theory that was promoted by the drug > companies around [SSRI drugs]. I’ve had people tell me ‘I have a > deficiency of a brain chemical; therefore, I need to take this drug.’ > It’s scientific hogwash." > Curries hopes anyone reading the booklet will come away with three main > points: if you are on a psychiatric drug, never go off it on your own; > if you are discontinuing the drug, be prepared for withdrawal symptoms; > if you are concerned about the drug’s side effects, discuss them with > an informed health-care specialist. > To get a copy of the booklet, see link above.
