Medical Industrial Complex by James Morcan

The situation, it seems, is little better elsewhere in the Western world. The reporter writes, “The use of antidepressants has increased 400%' (and) 'they’re now one of the three most-prescribed categories of drugs, coming in right after painkillers and cholesterol medications.” One infamous report in ‘The Atlantic’ claims Americans are awash in pills.

Studies show that self-loathing sharply decreases only in the course of cognitive-behavioral treatment.”Īccording to some estimates, depression, that most common of mental illnesses, affects one quarter of all Americans. The patient may feel not only penalized for a justifiable reaction, but permanently stigmatized as malfunctioning. We begin the chapter with a quote from Italian-Australian journalist-author Antonella Gambotto-Burke who states in her critically-acclaimed book ‘The Eclipse: A Memoir of Suicide’ that “In some cases, suicide risk skyrockets once treatment begins. In a chapter titled ‘Overprescribing blood pressure pills and antidepressants’ we explore this problem in some depth. In researching ‘MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX’, Book 3 in our Underground Knowledge Series, we quickly discovered that suicide rates have not slumped under the onslaught of antidepressants, mood-stabilizers, anxiolytic and anti-psychotic drugs. It no doubt also has something to do with the widespread consumer acceptance of antidepressants as a solution for their depression.

This no doubt has something to do with the readiness of people to talk about their depression or even their mental illness – conditions which, thankfully, are no longer burdened by stigma. It may be a neighbor, or colleague, or a friend or family member, or, it may be you. Statistically, there’s a very good chance you know someone who is taking Prozac or some other antidepressant right now.

Medical Industrial Complex by James Morcan