Turnquist (2002) reports that the treatment of depression with prescription drugs "has become an enormous industry in the United States" (p. 27). Most doctors do not even consider any other form of treatment such as helping the patient to find meaning and to live a more memorable and fulfilling life. Doctors not really understand why one person becomes depressed while another in similar circumstances remains symptom-free. They have a number of different theories, all of which seem to have some truth to them, but no one really knows how the drugs work either. Prescription drugs like Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, Luvox, etc. are considered safer and easier to use and have fewer

Issue 10 (2). Thomas Szasz is an M. D. and a psychoanalyst who argues in his book The Myth of Mental Illness that there is really no such thing as mental illness. He is against what he calls "coercive psychiatry." His books led to legal reforms in the 1960s and 1970s, which made it more difficult to lock up people deemed crazy. Prior to that time, if a man wanted to get rid of his wife, for example, he could find a psychiatrist willing to state she was mentally ill and have her put away. Szasz sees the label mentally ill as a disguise that covers up "the bitter pill of moral conflicts in human relations" (Sullum, 2000). He doesn't deny that some people can't cope with life and each other. And he admits that diseases like Alzheimer's and untreated syphilis can influence thought and behavior. But the behavior it self is never a disease. "Classifying thoughts, feelings, and behaviors as diseases is a logical and semantic error, like classifying the whale as a fish," he says (cited in Sullum, p. 27).

Marwood (1999) comparing the effects of marijuana to that of alcohol, states: "...marijuana does not cause aggression, over-sentimentality, or hangovers as alcohol can" (p. 22). People do not become violent when they smoke it. Marijuana is not addictive either. As the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported to Congress: "Given the large population of marijuana users and the infrequent reports of medical problems from stopping use, tolerance and dependence are not major issues at present" (cited in Lowry, 2001, p. 20).

Some people believe everything they hear on TV. The ads make it seem like all you need for a wonderful life is to take Prozac or something like it. People think all their dreams will come true if they take it. It's a lie. It is better to feel unhappy and do something about it-take a brisk walk, lift some weights, or find a hobby. If you are angry, find a way to forgive. Help other people so you aren't so absorbed with yourself and your own problems. Find a psychotherapist. These are better than taking a pill because they help you to learn about yourself and grow up.

The claim that marijuana is a "gateway" drug is really kind of silly. Most drug users began their drug use with nicotine and alcohol. Lowry (2001) points out that "most people who use marijuana, even those who use it with moderate frequency, don't go on to use any other illegal drug" (p. 18). The DEA (2001) states "marijuana sometimes lowers inhibitions about drug use and exposes users to a culture that encourages use of other drugs" (p. 15); but again, this is an argument for legalizing it. The reason no one worries about alcohol leading to other drug use is that alcohol is legal. Because it is legal to go in a bar, drink beer, and smoke cigarettes with law-abiding citizens, there is no exposure to an illegal or criminal mentality. If marijuana were legalized adults could go in the bar and order a joint. They would not be likely to encounter illegal drugs there or people who advocate them.

W

Some common words found in the essay are:
Human Services, Mental Illness, Administration Marijuana, Celexa Luvox, Prozac People, Abraham Lincoln, , Thomas Szasz, mentally ill, lowry 2001, makes sense, claim marijuana, trouble discerning reality, rosenbaum 2002, person drugs, califano 1999, turnquist 2002, smoke marijuana, marijuana gateway drug, argues marijuana,
Approximate Word count = 2045
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)