2008.12.22
Pharmaceutical Ads
"Ask your doctor if [insert name of drug] is right for you today."
I strongly detest pharmaceutical ads. I can kind of see what the originating idea behind the ads might have been: to inform people about the various pharmaceuticals available to them, to let them know about beta drugs and other options, and so that people might feel informed about the drugs they're using. But it feels more and more like the ads are just trying to sell the drugs. And the drugs are usually directed at the "popular" disorders: depression and bipolar disorder.
While I understand that the purpose of these ads is to inform people of the multiple options available to them, I can't help but notice that it also has the potential to make it more difficult for therapists. They'll get clients who'll saunter in, thinking they know what drug they need - the one they saw on the commercial, and demand it. Sometimes, if they don't get what they want, they'll switch therapists until they find one that will.
That is no way to treat a disorder.
There are many different factors that go into each of these disorders. Depression is a multi-faceted beast. It can be an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, it can be that the person has gone through some traumatic experiences, it could be a slow build up of stressors, etc. The list does go on. And these ads perpetuate the belief that a drug can fix it, make it better. Sometimes it can. But if the depression is because of life-events, it's a natural reaction, and it needs to be worked through. I'm not saying that drugs should not be used along side it. Sometimes, that's necessary.
But more and more, it feels like in our culture people want a quick fix - I'm depressed, so I'll just take this pill and I'll be good again. Nevermind the experiences that may have triggered the depression. We want instantaneous relief of our pains and worries. We're not going to get it simply through pills.
If we want relief, we have to work through our problems. Maybe with medication, maybe without it. But we have to also recognize that at some point, we'll need to take that medication away. For myself, I've always found that meditation works wonders.
Comments
No comments yet.
