Kids and Drugs

Why is this happening? Well, this for starters. We have a serious drug problem in this country, and I don’t mean illegal drugs (though they, too, are certainly a problem). While George Will complains about a society addicted to therapy, I fear that therapy is being approached in the wrong way: people who are perfectly capable of dealing with and controlling their emotions are being told to “let it out” while people who have difficulty controlling their emotions and impulses are drugged into submission rather than taught how to deal with them. How can we teach kids not to do drugs when we’re shoving them down their throats? And how are people to suppose to learn how to behave if discipline (which takes time and patience) is replaced by pills?

I recognize that there are people out there who seriously need medication. But it seems to me, medication should be a last resort, particularly for children who are still developing both physically and mentally. Adults need to keep in mind that prescription drugs can have some serious side effects. When did we as a society become so attached to medication? Are prescription drugs covered by enough medical plans now that people don’t think twice about taking them? Or are we just collectively becoming more mentally ill? There’s a comforting thought. Personally, if I want to take a mind-altering drug, I’ll stick to caffeine.