ABSTRACT
A complex of forceful influences is greatly accelerating the use of what are usually referred to as "psychiatric drugs," although most prescribing is not done by psychiatrists. Many other clinicians, including other kinds of physicians, and recently psychologists, prescribe these medications. The influences contributing to this dramatic surge include the pharmaceutical and managed care industries, the more exclusively biologically-oriented "new psychiatry," lack of governmental supervision and safeguards, and the gullibility of consumers, Americans especially, in accepting misleading and unproven claims. The nation's future college and university students are increasingly medicated instead of nurtured and disciplined in more traditional ways. Yet, a strong counterbalancing force can be effective; institutions of higher education represent 2the kinds of critical thinking that could improve a rapidly deteriorating picture of medication misuse. doi:10.1300/J035v21n03_01 [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: <docdelivery@haworthpress.com> Website: < https://www.HaworthPress.com" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">https://www.HaworthPress.com > © 2007by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]
