Citing reasons from weight loss to housecleaning, there has been a 750% increase in the use of Adderall among women in the U.S. aged 26 to 39. Some admit to stealing the drug from their kids and getting addicted, according to an article in yesterday’s Mail, a U.K. newspaper, and ABC News.
Mad in America hosts blogs by a diverse group of writers. These posts are designed to serve as a public forum for a discussion—broadly speaking—of psychiatry and its treatments. The opinions expressed are the writers’ own.
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11 COMMENTS
There ya go, Adderall is a gateway drug to meth.
Drugs of psychiatry meet drugs of sin. The lines are getting more and more blurry every day.
Kermit. Immediacy, a blinking cursor, a white box begging for text, and a simple one click and it is published forever, is the enemy of refined, careful thought. I fell down sometimes, meant no disrespect. Especially to RW.
Amphetamine’s Ok for our children, but not Ok for us adults? Hmm.
I don’t know what “drugs of sin” are either but I’d love to find out! I’m not sure what Alto’s getting at here.
The use of drugs to make life more enjoyable, easier, more “productive” has been going on since, well forever. There’s always been a percentage of people who use too much of the drug(s) with often devastating consequences.
I think what’s been new/different in the last 60 years or so is the belief by some that drugs can “correct” so-called mental illnesses. Of course this is nonsense, but let’s not forget that drugs do have effects. Someone taking a drug, any drug, will experience some kind of effect. Please let’s not call those effects “treatment” or “corrective” People on drugs act differently…sometimes that difference is desirable by the person or others.
“Drugs of sin” are what I call the drugs that somewhat arbitrarily are the focus of law-enforcement efforts, incur jail time, and from which sick “addicts” are “rehabilitated” for “addiction.”
“Drugs of psychiatry” are what I call drugs that somewhat arbitrarily are the focus of medical proselytizing, incur psychiatric diagnoses, and from which sick “patients” have to suffer through withdrawal on their own because of “physical dependency.”
“Prescription drug abuse” is a euphemism for when “drugs of psychiatry” are used by people without asking permission from doctors.
“Maintenance” is a euphemism for when “drugs of psychiatry” are used by people with permission from doctors, getting their (or their child’s) drug prescription filled for years without your doctor actually showing any interest in its usage.
SAMHSA is a government agency charged with discouraging addiction to “drugs of sin” and encouraging dependency on “drugs of psychiatry.” Sometimes they’re the same drugs, such as the amphetamine analogs, benzos, and painkillers. (I hear there’s an underground market in Seroquel, too.)
Many thanks for your masterful statement of the difference between “drugs of sin” and “drugs of psychiatry.” This is the most succinct description I’ve ever seen of the Alice-in-Wonderland world of psychiatry.
Is it OK if I quote you in a book I’m working on? If so, how would you like to be credited?
every one I have met on them only takes like 5-10 mg and they talk nonstop and clean and talk,… adderall is a really crappy set of drugs though.. the don’t just shut you up but make you feel bad about everything.
There ya go, Adderall is a gateway drug to meth.
Drugs of psychiatry meet drugs of sin. The lines are getting more and more blurry every day.
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what is a drug of sin?
who’s to say?
________________________________________
Kermit. Immediacy, a blinking cursor, a white box begging for text, and a simple one click and it is published forever, is the enemy of refined, careful thought. I fell down sometimes, meant no disrespect. Especially to RW.
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I often find it remain attentive and stay focussed on housekeeping, myself.
Mother’s little helpers, revisited.
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Amphetamine’s Ok for our children, but not Ok for us adults? Hmm.
I don’t know what “drugs of sin” are either but I’d love to find out! I’m not sure what Alto’s getting at here.
The use of drugs to make life more enjoyable, easier, more “productive” has been going on since, well forever. There’s always been a percentage of people who use too much of the drug(s) with often devastating consequences.
I think what’s been new/different in the last 60 years or so is the belief by some that drugs can “correct” so-called mental illnesses. Of course this is nonsense, but let’s not forget that drugs do have effects. Someone taking a drug, any drug, will experience some kind of effect. Please let’s not call those effects “treatment” or “corrective” People on drugs act differently…sometimes that difference is desirable by the person or others.
Report comment
“Drugs of sin” are what I call the drugs that somewhat arbitrarily are the focus of law-enforcement efforts, incur jail time, and from which sick “addicts” are “rehabilitated” for “addiction.”
“Drugs of psychiatry” are what I call drugs that somewhat arbitrarily are the focus of medical proselytizing, incur psychiatric diagnoses, and from which sick “patients” have to suffer through withdrawal on their own because of “physical dependency.”
“Prescription drug abuse” is a euphemism for when “drugs of psychiatry” are used by people without asking permission from doctors.
“Maintenance” is a euphemism for when “drugs of psychiatry” are used by people with permission from doctors, getting their (or their child’s) drug prescription filled for years without your doctor actually showing any interest in its usage.
SAMHSA is a government agency charged with discouraging addiction to “drugs of sin” and encouraging dependency on “drugs of psychiatry.” Sometimes they’re the same drugs, such as the amphetamine analogs, benzos, and painkillers. (I hear there’s an underground market in Seroquel, too.)
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Got it! Thanks.
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Altostrata,
Many thanks for your masterful statement of the difference between “drugs of sin” and “drugs of psychiatry.” This is the most succinct description I’ve ever seen of the Alice-in-Wonderland world of psychiatry.
Is it OK if I quote you in a book I’m working on? If so, how would you like to be credited?
WT Rector
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WT Rector, please write me at survivingads at comcast.net
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Pretty scary.
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every one I have met on them only takes like 5-10 mg and they talk nonstop and clean and talk,… adderall is a really crappy set of drugs though.. the don’t just shut you up but make you feel bad about everything.
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I actually take 60 mg a day. However, it was the choice between that or giving up driving.
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