Sibrian 1

Monica Sibrian

Professor Batty

English 28

25 May 2017

Hindrance or Assistance: Psychoactive Drugs

Normal, conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected. Each person has

different qualities and displays unique behaviors; some would say that this is what makes us

human. However, normal may seem to be detriment for some when dealing with psychiatric

disorders such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD, just to name a few. A large debate at hand in

society is the dependence of psychoactive medications to make us fit that norm. Although I do

not agree that psychoactive drugs are the solution for everyone who is battling psychiatric

disorders, I want it to be known that I am not denying the possible effectiveness of such

prescriptions. Although some may say that psychiatric patients require psychoactive medications

in order to live day-to-day, I strongly believe that such medications should be more carefully

distributed, all alternatives of treatment plan should be discussed with patients, and patients

should be informed of the possible effects of long-term use of these drugs.

Psychoactive prescription medications have created an addiction not only for those taking

them but, for those whom prescribe them as well. According to an article on WebMD.com,

written by Denise Mann, studies show that the amount of non-psychiatric providers who

prescribe antidepressants without any initial history or diagnosis of depression increased from

59.5% to 72.7% between the years 1996 through 2007. Although some may say that these

statistics seem antique, I would have to stand by the objective. I myself have witnessed this first-
hand. As a medical assistant at an urgent care, I have seen patients come into the office

requesting antidepressants for anxiety or panic attacks. Being an urgent care facility, we have no

access to previous patient history. As a result, some doctors feel subject to prescribing the

requested prescription - narcotic or not - for the simple fact that its the patients word against the

doctors and the doctor does not want to seem biased and refrain the patient from the care they

may possibly need. Some doctors might argue that when dealing with psychiatric patients it is

better to be safe than sorry and give into such requests to potentially save the patients lives, and

though that may be true in some cases, how is it possible to know that a patient is not making a

story up and potentially drug seeking? I do not agree that a non-psychoactive provider should be

prescribing psychoactive medications without confirmed patient history of psychiatric disorders

is most ethical thing to do, but as mentioned in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, "if the

whole profession is doing it, how can you call it 'unprofessional conduct'?" (Skloot.134) In fact,

most prescribed psychoactive prescriptions come from primary care physicians who may not be

fully informed about alternative treatment plans. However, not only is it non-psychiatric

providers that fall into their own temptation of unnecessarily prescribing psychoactive drugs. For

example, at this very second, I have two prescription containers on my desk. One labeled

Lorazepam the other is labeled Alprazolam. These two medications are best known for their

brand names Ativan and Xanax both of which are controlled substances. These prescriptions

were given to a family member after just one consultation with a psychiatrist. In fact, in the year

2013, Xanax was the most prescribed psychotropic drug in the United States, having about 48.5

million prescriptions given to patients in that year alone. You would think that a drug whos

warning label includes can cause paranoid or suicidal ideation would be more carefully
distributed. How is it possible that a prescription whos side effects include suicidal ideation be

a necessity for someone struggling with panic disorders?

There are many other alternatives to treating psychiatric disorders. Some alternatives

include, but are not limited to, yoga, exercise, and outdoor activities which can trigger a release

of endorphins in turn causing a positive reaction. Another alternative is cognitive therapy. As

stated by Dr. Mathew Hoffman, depression often comes from constant negative thoughts.

Cognitive therapy helps train the mind over time to shift and think more reasonably therefor

allowing the patient to recognize and correct those thoughts. A study published in the Journal

of the American Medical Association found that while antidepressants were helpful for those

experiencing severe depression, individuals who experienced mild to moderate depression

obtained more benefit from other treatment options, such as therapy, than they did from

medication. (Hoffman) This further explains why it is important to explore options for each

psychiatric patient, rather than jumping right to the prescription pad and prescribing unnecessary,

potentially harmful medications. Some psychiatrists may say that some patients with severe

psychiatric disorders do not benefit from cognitive therapy alone, to those psychiatrists I would

say try both. I do not think it is necessary for a person to be completely dependent on harmful

prescriptions.

So, what do these psychoactive medications do for a patient in the long run? Psychiatrists

have said that when used as directed, they help alter brain function temporarily and might result

in the patient following a placebo plan thus making them independent from harmful medications,

which leads me to my next question; what if the prescription is not taken as directed? Well , the

body may build a tolerance and require a stronger dose, overtime this may cause an addiction. As

mentioned in an article by Science Daily, Many of these substances (especially the stimulants
and depressants) can be habit-forming, causing chemical dependency and may lead to substance

abuse. Some may say that psychoactive drug abuse would be the worst-case scenario but how

outlandish can that really be? After all, central nervous system depressants and stimulants are

some of the most addictive drugs. I strongly believe that these types of medications simply

cannot be a patients only solution.

Conclusively, I encourage that as a patient, you become aware of all your alternative

options before making a decision that may alter the rest of your life. The last thing that should be

done is worsening psychiatric symptoms by filling your body with harmful medications that

provide temporary relief but further worsen those symptoms in the long run. Though I do not

mean to insult or belittle any physician, I advise that you do extensive research on all

possibilities that may work for you even after consulting a provider. The choice is ultimately

yours; which norm in todays society do you wish to fulfill?

Sibrian 4

Works Cited

Hoffman, Matthew. "Cognitive Therapy for Depression." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 27

May 2017.

Mann, Denise. "Antidepressants Prescribed Without Psychiatric Diagnosis." WebMD.

WebMD, 04
Aug. 2011. Web. 27 May 2017.

"Psychoactive Drug." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, n.d. Web. 27 May 2017.

"Psychotropic Medications." Good Therapy. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2017.

Skloot, Rebecca. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. New York: Broadway, 2017. Print.