The marketing of prescription medication is as evident as the range of commercials one sees while watching any live television. These commercials always include some fast-talking narrator over small print quickly highlighting the range of side effects one can expect when taking a specific medication. Unfortunately, this does not provide a consumer with the necessary information to fully understand the implications of taking this or any other medication beyond the assumption it is designed to address a particular illness or condition.
Opening with the staggering statistic that 20% of Americans take prescription psychiatric medication every day, Medicating Normal examines the use, overuse, and impact this approach to mental health has on a segment of this population. Using the personal stories of five individuals to convince viewers of the impact that profit-driven motives of pharmaceutical companies can have on those seeking care, this film weaves in the changing approach to mental health treatment starting in the 1980s.
In the 1980s, the American Psychiatric Association moved to a new disease model for mental health disorders in order to be greater recognized as medical providers. This move changed the narrative away from talk therapy to one in which mental illnesses can be treated (and maybe even cured) with medication.
Highlighting the negative impact of the overuse of psychiatric medications, Medicating Normal discusses the first Xanax study which showed the medication has positive results over a placebo group in the first four weeks, no discernable difference over the placebo group by week eight, and negative results over the placebo group when used over a 14-week period.
The impact of long-term use is evident in the stories of the five individuals highlighted in this film as they struggle with the negative impact their particular psychiatric medication or its consequent withdrawal symptoms had on them. The raw emotion of the five individuals featured in this film is captured as they discuss their personal experiences on prescription psychiatric medication.
While there is a clear perspective of the dangers of long-term use of these medications, this perspective is supplemented by interviews with experts in the field. This film is a conversation starter for anyone who is interested in the field of psychiatry and the place for medication as a long-term treatment option. It also offers a wider audience a clear picture of the effects and/or risks these medications have on those taking them.
Ultimately, the message is to be a more informed patient who understands the side effects and long-term impact that taking any prescription medication can have on an individual. The film closes with a disclaimer about the need to reduce any prescription psychiatric medication in a responsible and appropriate manner. As those featured in this film discuss self-harm and suicidal ideation, it is important that viewers are aware of this topic. Highly Recommended. Aud: H, C, P.
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