A pill for almost everything

WINDHOEKNAMENE HELMICH

Namibia has increasingly become a drug-oriented society. If people are depressed they see a doctor and get a pill. If they can't sleep, they get a pill. If you have strange thoughts they get a pill and at the first sign of a sniffle, headache they make a beeline for their nearest pharmacy.
Even children are sensitised to this kind of drug-taking.
These days many in society can hardly function without their drug of choice, including strong prescription medication and even illegal narcotics like heroine and others.
People have become addicted.
Local medical practitioner, Dr Ian Stevens, said more and more people - both young and old - have taken or are taking prescription drugs with the most common being antibiotics, anti-depressants and painkillers.
“The problem may also be that people have grown accustomed to easy fixes, and that we place much of our trust in a system that might not always have the right answer for us. Instead of seeking alternative methods, such as exercise, diet, and therapy, people assume that even if the doctor prescribes an apple a day, a pill a day is probably better but with these quick fixes can come long term dependence even addiction as well as risky side effects” he said.
Meanwhile, local psychotherapist Dr Marissa Benett said alcohol and drugs are also a choice of self medication and millions of people continue to abuse the said substances to numb emotional problems and as a result people get more and more dependent on substances.
“There is so much addiction these days be it to prescription drugs, recreational drugs and alcohol, which is the more preferred choice of substance as it is cheaper and readily available,” she said.
She added that many alcohol and drug abusers have become addicted as a result of years of abuse and chemically their bodies simply cannot do without their substances of choice.
According to her, the individuals' choice of a particular drug is not accidental or coincidental, but is instead a result of a psychological condition.
She also said many people that take prescription drugs convince themselves that there is nothing wrong with taking pills and that they are not addicted, but being dependent on medication - whether it helps with physical pain - is dangerous and every user stands a chance of becoming addicted.
“People should try to look more to therapy for problems instead of being quick to pop a pill. Conditions such as depression and anxiety are treatable through therapy and only severe cases that are totally beyond therapy should be treated with medication,” she stressed.
Of course, many say that doctors are partly to blame, but people also need to take some responsibility.
But just how do we go about resisting the constant bombardment of television commercials, promising instant cures for every condition under the sun, from depression to erectile dysfunction.