Zantac Lawsuit


Researching drug company and regulatory malfeasance for over 16 years
Humanist, humorist

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Fascinating article in today's Herlad

Depressing, isn't it? In modern Britain, happiness comes in a blister pack. The richer we become, the more pills we pop to stave off depression. Last year there were 31 million prescriptions for anti-depressants, up 6% on the previous year - figures the government announced last month in such a sotto voce whisper, that nobody noticed them until the mental health charity Mind reproduced them in a report this week. If each prescription represents a four-week supply, that's 868 million happy pills. It cost the NHS £291.5m, up threefold on 1993 in real money.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

The closing paragraph pretty much sums it all up:

"Two studies out this week come down on the side of "ecotherapy", such as a daily walk in the park or countryside. In much of Europe agricultural work is used as a treatment for mental distress. The Dutch health service includes 600 "care farms". All credit to the SNP for including in its manifesto a target of reducing prescriptions for anti-depressants by 10%. Now it has the reins of power, Alex Salmond must put his money where his mouth is and spend new money on alternatives. We also need a public information campaign warning of the possible side-effects of anti-depressants and lauding non-drug-based treatments. I'm grateful to my GP for not reaching for his pad. We talked and shortly afterwards I took up jogging, the ultimate "feel good" exercise. OK. So now I'm addicted to running but give me trainers over Seroxat any day."

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