Neuroskeptic quotes an important survey on the doubling use of antidepressants in the last decade in the USA, specifically between 1996 and 2005. I find some of the (conservative) figures astounding but not unexpected:
- 13.4% females vs males 6.7% are on antidepressants
- 15.5% of people between 50 and 64, this means every 6th person in that age bracket is smoking “prozac”
- 12.0% of whites (every 8th whitie is dope) versus 5% backs and hispanics
- 22% of unemployed, holy smokes!
- The % of antidepressant users also using an antipsychotic drug rose from 5.5% to 8.9%
What are the cultural and philosophical implications? While this society is happy to shove this phenomenon under the carper, wouldn’t one argue that this is much bigger that the global warming? Could massive genetic mutation be far behind and new prozac resistant humanoids emerge? What impact does this have of the American creativity and the arts? This is not a PC subject because anyone who touches this is bound to upset 50 people he or she knows personally, but as Neuroskeptic writes there, shouldn’t somebody study this?
Further Reading:
Inbreeding is out, Assimilation is in, in the American Melting Pot
The Pain and the Pleasure of being a Redhead
The Wikipedia’s Climate Doctor
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