Film Review: Generation RX

1.       The main thesis of this film was that in the U.S. children are being medicated with dangerous psychoactive drugs and alarming rates with dangerous affects on them, their families, and society.  The purpose of doing this is to make ridiculous amounts of money for pharmaceutical corporations as well controlling children in the classroom. 

2.       The main arguments to support this thesis were many.  The number of kids being medicated in the last couple of decades has grown exponentially.  The number of school shootings, suicides and other violent acts committed by children on these medications is high.  Also there was a scandal involving Eli Lily, the pharmaceutical manufacturer of Prozac, to cover up the fact that Prozac can cause increased suicidal ideation.  There is a conflict of interest for the DSM panel because most of them have financial ties to pharmaceutical companies. 

3.       This ties into the class because now not being able to sit still for a long period of time, focus on the task at hand and follow strict instructions well is seen as deviant.  Wanting to move around and use your imagination is seen as deviant.  These behaviors are seen as problems and labeled as being ADHD.  Being sad because a friend moved away or a pet died is seen as deviant therefore problematic and labeled as depression.  Being anxious about school and friendships as a teenager is seen as deviant therefore problematic and labeled as anxiety disorder.  The mainstream society sees these things as medical conditions that need to be medicated instead of life conditions that are a part of growing up to be worked through with adult guidance.

4.       The fact that there was such a strong conflict of interest among the panel member for the DSM along with how much the pharmaceutical industry has grown.  When you look at that along with the tragic stories about the damage these drugs have done to people’s lives it is obvious these pharmaceutical companies don’t see these people as people but just statistics.  To the pharmaceutical companies who are only concerned with making money these people are just the unfortunate costs of doing business. 

5.       I found this documentary very compelling and I thought that every point they made tied together into the big picture that children are just an untapped market for these pharmaceutical companies.  I did think they could have made it more balanced.  I do believe there are some people who can benefit from these medications.  However, instead of being mass marketed these medications should only be used in extreme situations for short periods of time and under strict medical supervision like a hospital setting. 

6.         The point made that these medicated kids are not learning how to cope with life stresses along with damaging the prefrontal cortex of the brain; which is responsible for judgment, decision making and impulse control, makes me wonder of the kids who make it to adulthood how many of these adults then struggle with addiction problems.  I could use a large sample of people who are in drug treatment programs or jail for drug charges and do a survey.  The survey would include questions including; have they ever been on any medications as children or teenagers, how long where they on any medications, and what medications.