Documentary exposes long-term dangers of Benzodiazepines,  over prescription in mental health

A new documentary, “Medicating Normal,” delves into the troubling side effects of long-term benzodiazepine use and the broader issue of over prescription in mental health care.

Benzodiazepines, commonly prescribed for anxiety, can lead to impaired thinking, confusion, and disorientation when taken over extended periods.

Despite these risks, even teenagers are increasingly prescribed psychotropic medications for mental health issues.

The film highlights how the pharmaceutical industry has redefined “normal,” equating discomfort with abnormality, leading to the overprescription of medications that often prioritize profit over addressing the root causes of mental health problems.

This approach has contributed to a growing problem of polypharmacy, where patients, particularly the elderly, are prescribed multiple medications simultaneously, leading to severe health complications.

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“Medicating Normal” follows the lives of individuals whose conditions worsened due to long-term medication use. U.S. Navy veteran Dave Cope, for example, recounts how benzodiazepines initially provided relief but eventually led to severe cognitive issues, while Army veteran Angie Peacock shares how her prescribed medications resulted in debilitating physical and mental health problems.

The film also touches on the alarming trend of psychotropic medication use among teenagers, with one subject, Rebecka Green, describing her experience with anxiety medications that led to hallucinations and multiple hospitalizations.

The documentary argues that the pursuit of profit has overshadowed patient safety, with Big Pharma’s influence leading to a culture of overmedication.

To combat this issue, experts recommend strategies such as listing all medications, using a single pharmacy, scrutinizing new prescriptions, and considering healthy lifestyle changes to reduce dependency on medications.

“Medicating Normal” aims to spark a national conversation about the impact of psychotropic drugs and the need for a more informed and cautious approach to mental health treatment.