Psychiatric Drugs and Harm Reduction: A Critical Discussion
More important is what happens to the long-term course of patients. And just so you know, so I write this book and that is getting some attention to this.
Is the rise in mental illness linked to the boom in psychiatric drug prescriptions? In this thought-provoking episode of 'Harm Reduction Radio - HAMS', host Kenneth Anderson sits down with two experts to unravel this complex issue. Robert Whitaker, author of 'Anatomy of an Epidemic', delves into the alarming increase in mental health issues and questions the role of Big Pharma in over-prescribing psychiatric medications.
He shares compelling arguments about the potential dangers these drugs pose and challenges the widely accepted chemical imbalance theory. Next, Dr. Daliah Heller, former executive director of Citiwide Harm Reduction and current assistant commissioner of drugs and alcohol for New York City, offers her insights on integrating harm reduction programs into mainstream healthcare. She discusses her journey as a harm reductionist and the current landscape of drug treatment in New York City.
The conversation covers the importance of evidence-based approaches to substance abuse, the necessity of medical care in harm reduction, and how attitudes towards harm reduction and abstinence are evolving. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersections of mental health, addiction treatment, and public health policies.