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Concern over psychiatric drug use in the military

  • 20-03-2010 3:03pm
    #1
    SLUSK
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,156 ✭✭✭


    Many members of the goon squad aka the US military are mentally ill. About 1/6 are on psychiatric medication
    http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/03/military_psychiatric_drugs_031710w/

    How safe would you feel around an armed bunch of "gang bangers" high on meth?

    How safe can you feel among members of the military doped up on psychiatric drugs? Should these people
    be allowed to carry firearms among civilians?


Comments

  • #2
    Overheal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,729 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    I should point out your source is Army Times. AKA The US Army. AKA not the Marines, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, or even likely the Reserve, if im not mistaken.

    Anyway you know how i feel about debates/arguments crutched up on puffed up phrases like goon squads and gang bangers. If your Point cant stand on its own without relying on buzzwords and spin to get across, its probably weak to begin with.


  • #3
    Black Swan
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 47,541 CMod ✭✭✭✭Black Swan


    SLUSK wrote: »
    How safe would you feel around an armed bunch of "gang bangers" high on meth?
    Where in the article is there support for behavioural characteristics and actions often characterised as that pertaining to the "gang bangers" label, or is that simply your opinion?

    Also from the Army news article cited in the OP:

    "...6 percent of deployed troops, are on antidepressants, Brig. Gen. Loree Sutton, the Army’s highest-ranking psychiatrist, told Congress on Feb. 24."

    "In contrast, about 10 percent of all Americans take antidepressants, according to a 2009 Columbia University study."

    Does this mean that antidepressant use by deployed troops is 40 percent below that found to be normal in the US?


  • #4
    Victor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,580 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Blue_Lagoon wrote: »
    "In contrast, about 10 percent of all Americans take antidepressants, according to a 2009 Columbia University study."

    Does this mean that antidepressant use by deployed troops is 40 percent below that found to be normal in the US?
    That isn't necessarily a good comparison. If 10% were on cocaine, it wouldn't be OK to have 6% of the military on cocaine.


  • #5
    Overheal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,729 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    Are we talking about Cocaine or are we talking about Prozac though.


  • #6
    SLUSK
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,156 ✭✭✭SLUSK


    Overheal wrote: »
    Are we talking about Cocaine or are we talking about Prozac though.
    Prozac is linked with aggressive behavior so I'd be just as worried if an armed person is on Prozac as if he is on Cocaine.


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  • #7
    Overheal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,729 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    I'll rephrase :rolleyes:

    Are we talking about Cocaine or are we talking about Anti-Depressants?


  • #8
    SLUSK
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,156 ✭✭✭SLUSK


    Overheal wrote: »
    I'll rephrase :rolleyes:

    Are we talking about Cocaine or are we talking about Anti-Depressants?
    As I said before anti depressants are linked to aggressive behavior. There is very much information to be found online about the link between anti depressants and aggressive behavior.

    "Dr Healy said research had also shown that even some healthy volunteers who took part in trials of SSRIs became "hostile", a clinical term which can include serious aggression and even homicidal behaviour."
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3675878.stm

    I would not feel safe around people on anti depressants armed with sub-machine guns and/or assault rifles.


  • #9
    rovert
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 23,089 ✭✭✭✭rovert


    SLUSK wrote: »
    Many members of the goon squad aka the US military are mentally ill. About 1/6 are on psychiatric medication
    http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/03/military_psychiatric_drugs_031710w/

    How safe would you feel around an armed bunch of "gang bangers" high on meth?

    How safe can you feel among members of the military doped up on psychiatric drugs? Should these people
    be allowed to carry firearms among civilians?

    ^ Hasnt read much history this bloke me thinks


  • #10
    Victor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,580 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Overheal wrote: »
    Are we talking about Cocaine or are we talking about Prozac though.
    No, we are talking about the use of a variety of prescription drugs, some for purposes that haven't been properly documented.

    Anti-depressants are enablers for inappropriate behaviour in some users - the user goes from angry and incapable to angry and capable.


  • #11
    SteveS
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 149 ✭✭SteveS


    SLUSK wrote: »
    "hostile", a clinical term which can include serious aggression and even homicidal behaviour."

    Hostile can also include disagreeable and angry, which is hardly the same as being willing to murder someone. How many people in the study actually became homicidal?


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  • #12
    SteveS
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 149 ✭✭SteveS


    SLUSK wrote: »
    As I said before anti depressants are linked to aggressive behavior. There is very much information to be found online about the link between anti depressants and aggressive behavior.

    The link in that article is from one study in the 1980's. That is hardly conclusive. Even the relationship between SSRI's and child suicide is not clear.


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