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Monica Sibrian
Professor Batty
English 28
25 May 2017
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Sibrian 4
Works Cited
Hoffman, Matthew. "Cognitive Therapy for Depression." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 27
May 2017.
Skloot, Rebecca. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. New York: Broadway, 2017. Print.