Prozac Nation

when i was a child
A.D.D had yet to be discovered
we were called
precocious and energetic
and considered a handful
acknowledged as bright
but scattered
parents and teachers
worked together
to channel such children
in multiple directions
sagely knowing
their chosen path
was neither singular nor straight
never discouraged
always encouraged
to look before we leap
we learned to govern
busy minds and busy feet
how did the natural exuberance of children
and their innate curiousity for the world
become labeled a disorder
now viewed as a disability
we drug our children
with prescribed conformity
pharmaceutically repressing
energetic bodies
and acrobatic minds
parenting in a pill
is easier to swallow
than devoting time and attention
and teaching coping skills
dosed with depressants
we should not be surprised
that our Ritalin based children
have grown into a Prozac nation
after all
we made depression their way of life



**Author's Note: I'd just like to say that I recognize there are children who legitimately have serious attention disorder problems and for whom medical intervention is a necessity. This work is in response to what I see as a current trend to label far too many kids A.D.D and drug them because it's easy. I have two nephews who are on these drugs and probably shouldn't be--because they have lazy parents who would rather play online games than play with their children.

If I have in any way offended anyone, I apologize as that was not my intention.

• On Sunday, March 7, 2010, american aquarium drinker (14) wrote:
  
  this makes me think of my daughter, which i think is the point. ummmm, keep making me think.
  
  
• On Tuesday, June 16, 2009, Adaml (254) wrote:
  
  While revisiting my favorites list I came across this work again. When I commented before I failed to mention I had first hand knowledge of this. At the time I just finished living at a residential school for poor kids and kids with other issues, the Campus "Dr(s)." would give out pills like M&M's. They tried to get me on meds more than one time too. Told me I was ADD (which I guess I am, but damn it I can get through it on my own, with my own skills I've learned). I was to be put on pills multiple times per day and refused until they dropped it (that was a really hard battle to win). About half a year after that my mom passed away and I (naturlly) entered a state of mourning, the councilors decided that insted of letting me work it out and let time heal they would just perscribe me depression meds - It would help me focus more on the important thinkgs like school... I think parents need to take their kids and teach them how to survive, most of these kids become dependent for life because they were never taught to overcome anything, let alone focus and follow through without the drugs.
  
  
• On Wednesday, June 17, 2009, The Lipstick Factor (749) wrote:
  
  It's frightening that schools are openly using medication to manage kids instead of managing them with balanced diets, activities and logical consequences to their actions. A visit to the doctor to discuss a lifetime of sleep problems prompted this piece. My doctor put me on anti-depressants as they supposedly help to regulate serotonin and have been documented to help with sleep problems. I questioned him as I was and am not depressed. Anyway, after 3 days of taking this prescription, I became agoraphobic--not so bad I couldn't leave my home, but almost. I had to take 3 months off work to deal with 3 days of medication. You may or may not agree with "illegal" substances but what does work to help me sleep is weed. Contrary to popular beliefs about that particular drug, I have not become a chronic burnout. I don't view the use of weed as a social lubricant, merely a natural alternative to prescription medication. I only use it at night and have been for several years without any increase in use. I agree completely that parents need to be more proactive in teaching coping skills. Grief is a part of life and learning to work through it is an important part of development. Thanks for the second read and sharing your experiences.
  
  
• On Tuesday, June 16, 2009, Adaml (254) wrote:
  
  Sometimes I stil wonder what I would or would not have accomplished with the meds? What part of my personality would it have killed off?
  
  
• On Sunday, November 2, 2008, Spiral Downward (406) wrote:
  
  Amazing! I love this due to it's honesty. I agree with every word, syllable and sentence of this. Though it is very sad that this is true
  
  
• On Sunday, August 10, 2008, Adaml (254) wrote:
  
  Agree! Far too true.
  
  
• On Friday, July 4, 2008, heroineyes (127) wrote:
  
  i loved it...i agree...alanarchy's comment is great...our world has changed...think about just the amount human interaction has gone down...we don't need to walk across the office to give joe so-and-so a memo, we can just email them that...it's all goign in the same direction
  
  
• On Thursday, July 3, 2008, freudian-slip (342) wrote:
  
  good thoughts here. There is a book by that name, pretty good read (although way too long for us ADD folk).
  
  
• On Thursday, July 3, 2008, Moonflower (431) wrote:
  
  fucking great. :)
  
  
• On Thursday, July 3, 2008, carlosjackal (1799) wrote:
  
  I have to say this is a fantastic write :) "that our Ritalin based children have grown into a Prozac nation" I would say that I think that it's the Prozac Nation that's resorted to Ritalin for children. I suppose the question is, will the ritalin children become a second/third generation Prozac Nation or the next Junkie Nation? Super thought-provoking especially as I have a 2 year old daughter. Excellent stuff :) -Carl
  
  
• On Thursday, July 3, 2008, Alanarchy (1483) wrote:
  
  Well how else is our government supposed to keep us docile. Nice and pliant. Hook em early.
  
  
• On Thursday, July 3, 2008, Blinded_Tiger (526) wrote:
  
  Glad to have the author's Note. I am a teacher and a daycare worker in Denmark. Been working with adhd and add children for the past 3 years. With the adhd children my experience is that they can be without medicine if they get private teaching/attention 1 to 1. This is not only in the school but also in any play or sports. It is impossible for them to be around too many people without conflict. They can be guided through much of the day, but in the end adhd wins(usualy by smacking or kicking someone or running away yelling and screaming throwing stuff around). Now these kids gets challenged alot on there weak points in the Danish school system even in a special institution. They are faced with social challenges that are often rare in there own homes. So sometimes no medicine is a great idea at home but a very bad idea around lots of people .. In anyway I think the Danish medicine system works from what I have seen(a fraction). Ohh and I do not support giving drugs to add children(never seen it either). Not from what I have seen. I agree totaly on the lazy parent and teacher part there. Great write and I am glad to see this topic up.
  
  
• On Thursday, July 3, 2008, Sketso (730) wrote:
  
  BRAVO! Whatever happened to keeping our children busy, playing outside, reading books, hot wheels, barbies, bikes... (I could go on forever). I recently spent a whole Saturday introducing my son to the wonderful world of destruction. We set up little green army men, faced off on opposite ends of the driveway, and launched rocks at each other's forces until one (him, darnit!!!) side won! Not once did he display the ADD the doctor has diagnosed him with, and without the medication we refuse to give him. Instead, I witnessed a typical 8 year old boy full of love for life and the excitement of getting to live it!
  
  
• On Thursday, July 3, 2008, Sketso (730) wrote:
  
  Isn't it amazing how children attack life with gusto, just like we used to do? To take a twist off of a line made famous by some guy in a cornfield... "If you engage them, they will grow."
  
  
• On Thursday, July 3, 2008, The Lipstick Factor (749) wrote:
  
  Kudos to you for being engaged with your child-tis a rare thing this day! Even more kudos that you refuse to drug your child out his natural enthusiasm for life.
  
  
• On Thursday, July 3, 2008, Velvet_Raventon (654) wrote:
  
  I completely agree with you, people are over diagnosed. I personally think that a very high percentage of people could get cured with a change in their diet and some exercise. Of course, there will always be people for whom this does not work, but to me, they are a small minority.
  
  
• On Thursday, July 3, 2008, The Lipstick Factor (749) wrote:
  
  Thank you and I agree with you. Good nutrition and a healthy body are likely the cure and prevention of many modern ailments.
  
  
• On Thursday, July 3, 2008, Blinded_Tiger (526) wrote:
  
  Totaly agree. No products made out of wheat and sugar and there is list of E numbers that are bad also. Seen it work wonders
  
  
• On Thursday, July 3, 2008, Velvet_Raventon (654) wrote:
  
  I don't know how things are in Denmark, but in the US, it's is almost impossible to find ready made food that doesn't have either wheat, sugar, HFCS, or soy. Another reason why I want to be a stay at home mom, I want my child to eat good nutritious food :)
  
  
• On Thursday, July 3, 2008, Blinded_Tiger (526) wrote:
  
  Yes as far as ready made food goes it is near impossible here aswell :( .. Have also begun cooking alot at work in the afternoon myself. Our parents encouraged it after I started changing the diet. It is hard to find things in the begining but it gets easier. Been adding alot to it lately :)