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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Tom Clarke who wrote (79376)	5/5/2000 1:34:00 PM
From: Jacques Chitte	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Ritalin is a psychoactive drug ... it is active on psychos. <OK stop giggling> It is psychoactive since it is a central stimulant, like a diminutive form of methamphetamine. Or cocaine. And in high doses it can excite anxiety, rage, grandeur, yadda yadda. The class of drugs being attacked in the program you mention are the SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), drugs whose effectiveness against depression and related affective ills is nothing shy of revolutionary. SSRIs got some negative publicity because they can send a bipolar (manic-depressive) patient from deep depression straight into manic psychosis. But this is an unusual effect profile - even so, bipolar patients need to be CAREFUL around Prozac etc. But the argument that drugs can suppress conscience is irresponsible reportage. And here is why I think so: Conscience has not been plausibly associated with a psychopharmacological target, a part of the brain that a drug selectively hits. And it is such a loaded term to use ... it has unavoidable moral implications. Can you think of a more devastating way to characterize a prescription drug than "an antidote for morality"? Pills sporting pentagrams???? What's next - pharma company execs killing cats on Friday nights?! This isn't aimed your way, CharleyMane. But I do want to state that when some reporters use terms like this, their thirst for sensation is concealing an utter contempt for decency. What's fair anymore? OK, end rant