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[silversolitaire]

For the first time that I can remember Tom Cruise does something that I fully condone and support. That's a new one. Usually he just annoys the fuck out of me with all his Scientology crap, and even though this is motivated by the same reason the thing he fights for is very decent. Psycho drugs are evil.

Tom Cruise Hits Out at Drug Laws

Heartthrob actor Tom Cruise is launching a campaign to stop kids taking drugs prescribed by their doctors. The diminutive Mission Impossible hunk flew to Washington DC last week to lobby politicians for stricter controls on how medicines are handed out to minors, particularly those with Attention Deficit Disorder. Cruise campaigns, "There are eight million kids on educational medication. Do you know about Ritalin, Adderall and psychotropic drugs? When you break down the chemical compound, it's the same as cocaine. Bet you didn't know that." The Scientology faith, of which the Vanilla Sky star is a firm follower, is against all forms of orthodox medicines, favoring more natural ways to medicate.

[source]

Comments

[jessibean.livejournal.com]

well uh, i'm on 'psycho drugs' - three of them actually. 35.7 mgs of Effexor in the AM, 75 mg of Effexor at night with Lexapro. And I would NOT be the same person without them. Before I was on ADs I was cutting myself every night, i was sobbing, i was miserable, i was writing 5-page long suicide notes for my friends.

so uh, i think what he fights for is ridiculous.

[silversolitaire.livejournal.com]

Since we already talking about this on AIM I'm keeping it short. Just for the records. It's not about people who are clinically depressed or hyper and need pills to lead a normal life. Those people need and should get these pills. But I strongly disapprove of the "My kid is difficult, let's give them some pills" attitude that can often be seen where one pill causes something else, so another pill has to be taken etc. A lot of things can be helped without them.

[drworm.livejournal.com]

When you break down the chemical compound, it's the same as cocaine.

No, actually, it's the same as crystal meth. Because that's essentially what most ADD drugs are: amphetemines. And if a child who doesn't need the medication is being given it, then the parents will probably want to stop that immediately, as amphetemines only have the desired calming effect in people who really have ADD or ADHD or other chemical problems associated with the drugs. It tends to make people without the disorder irritable and over-energized.

*Is on Adderall. Is doing far better than she used to be. She appreciates Tom's right to believe what he likes, but really thinks that diagnosis and dispension of medication should be left to the doctors' discretion and not the government*

[silversolitaire.livejournal.com]

Yes, of course, if there's a medical indication for such medication to be given, then by all means, people should get it. But from my view as an outsider to the United States I see that a lot of doctors are extremely trigger-happy when it comes to giving out such drugs. I was extremely depressed for years. I was suicidal. I was miserable. I WANTED pills, I wanted something to make me better. But you know what? My therapist said that I should learn to live without them because drug-dependancy is a lot worse than that and we can get a grip of this together. And we did. I went to therapy and I learnt to control myself without having to depend on pills. So that worked for me. Our neighbor's child is hyper-active and suffering from ADD he too goes to therapy 3 times a week and he manages to control it with a minimum of medication. Actually, I think they already got him off it again.

You see what I mean? If there's an actual need to take these pills then they should get it. But I find it interesting that in the US almost everyone I know takes some sort of mood-altering medication whereas where I live pratically nobody does and we're just as sane.

Just some food for thought. It may seem odd for most people to see such a campagne. But to me this totally makes sense.

[kribban.livejournal.com]

This happened to a friend of mine. He was a little sexually hyperactive and anxious after having been raped a couple of years earlier. The parents got the advice by some friends to change doctors, which was a bad choice since the boy was comfortable with the first doctor. The new doctor, after reviewing the situation, prescribed a new drug for the boy. After about a year the boy confessed that everything was bleak.

He didn't get erections or have ANY sexual thoughts anymore (which is NOT normal for a fourteen year old) and he didn't find any joy in playing or doing the things he'd done before. He described it as "Nothing is fun anymore." The reason why he waited so long to speak was that he had heard his parents say they were relieved he was so calm and well behaved. When they found out they took him back to the old doctor who changed his medication and they are still with that doctor. After a couple of weeks off the drug the boy gradually became himself again.

I think the dangers in medicating children is that they often can't speak about how they are feeling in the same way an adult who takes drugs can do.

[silversolitaire.livejournal.com]

*hugs!* I knew it would take a European to understand me! ^_^;;;

And yes, I fully agree.