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 on psychoactive medications to make us normal. Although I agree

that each patient should be evaluated thoroughly before coming up with a treatment plan that

involves prescription drugs, I want it to be known that I am not denying the existence and

possible effectiveness of psychoactive prescriptions. I strongly believe that psychoactive drugs

should be more carefully distributed, all alternatives of treatment 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 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
 Sibrian 2

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. I do not agree that this 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 different 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.

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
 Sibrian 3

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.

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

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 the medication. But what if the

prescription is not taken as directed? 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.

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. Which norm do you choose

to conform to?
 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.