4. |
In June 2009, pop icon Michael Jackson died after receiving a fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol, which is sometimes used off-label as an antianxiety drug; autopsy confirmed that his body contained a cocktail of prescription drugs, including the benzodiazepines lorazepam and diazepam. (Jackson’s cardiologist, Dr. Conrad Murray, was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter for administering the fatal dose.) Other celebrities whose deaths have been attributed to medications commonly prescribed for anxiety and depression include Heath Ledger in 2008 and Anna Nicole Smith in 2007. “These drugs are dangerous,” your roommate notes. “People who have psychological problems should seek out talk therapy for their problems and stay away from the medications, even if they’re prescribed by a responsible doctor.” You agree that medications can be dangerous if misused, but how would you justify the use of drug treatment for serious mental disorders? |