Cognitive Dissonance at its Greatest: A Country of Pet Lovers and Meat Eaters

First thing, the most kind and intelligent people in my life purchase/consume animal products that have foreboding origins. And bottom line, a person’s choice of food, in my opinion, does not determine whether that person is a loving and compassion soul... it does, however, bring up a psychological and ethical paradox.[*][*][*]

 

American’s love their pets.

 
Last year alone, we spent over 14 billion dollars on pet services (not including vet care). There has been no time in history that has seen such a wide and growing variety of products and services for pets and pet parents.[*] 
 
 
American’s also love their meat (and cheese)….no other county in the world consumes more meat then America.[*]
 
With these statistics, I have to admit I am a bit confused by the logic of consuming/purchasing animal products (ex. meat, dairy, clothing) but still professing our beliefs against animal cruelty.
 
Is it that people are still truly in the dark when it comes to the origin and process of how their food got to their plate?
 
True, some Americans do choose to stop eating meat and/or dairy (or choose more humane origins such as local farmers) when they learn the extent that animals suffer for its production. However, an overwhelming majority do not. Recent research has illustrated that people keep eating meat by simply dampening their moral consideration of animals when sitting at the dinner table.[*]
 
Research explains that when there is a conflict between people's preferred way of thinking and their preferred way of acting, it is their thoughts and moral standards that people abandon first -- rather than changing their behavior.[*]
 
People may even employ the following when faced with their role as a consumer in the reality of the horrific conditions of industrialized meat/dairy:  

Denial - "Animals are treated fine.” “Animals don’t suffer.” “Human’s are superior.”

 

Minimization - "That's only the non-freerange animals."

 

Passive aggression- A general negative feeling towards people who don’t eat meat or eat locally farm raised meat.

 

Isolation - "The animals are nowhere near me and have nothing to do with me." “There is nothing I can do about it.”

 

Repression - Any guilt arising from having an active role in animal cruelty is avoided..

 

Humor - Making a joke out of the issue to avoid their own feelings about it.

  
This may be surprising to some, but animals raised for food in the US, in large part, are excluded from legal protection against cruelty.[*]
 
Specifically, 28 states have enacted laws that create a legal realm whereby certain acts, no matter how cruel, are deem ‘accepted’,‘common’, ‘customary’, and ‘normal’ farming practices. Of those states that do have anticruelty statues, they exclude poultry which represents approximate 95% of the 7 billion farm animals slaughtered annually.[*]
 

(I’m not going to drone on and on regarding what happens to these animals. I’ve seen it and I don’t care to rehash it. If you are truly curious then I suggest watching Earthlings or, the rated PG version, Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home)

 

So how do we go from abandoning our underlying principles of animal cruelty to changing our behavior? Could the answer be in an encompassing grasp on how much power the consumer has over this dilemma?  
 
With each meal, with each dollar – we truly cast our vote each and every day on whether we support animal cruelty or if we have enough balls and wherewithal to stand up against it.

“We patronize animals for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken form so far beneath ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly err. For the animal shall not be measured by man.

In a world older and more complex than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of the earth."

 

-Harry Beston 1888~1968

 

For those of you who are too afraid to witness how these animals come into this world, live, reproduce and die...just remember that they have to live through this violence each and every day, every minute and every second – and each of us has an active role in its progression (or cessation).  
 
Even more disturbing, in my opinion, is this cruelty is caused not because Americans are starving, naked, or without other means of enriching their lives, but rather - we simple enjoy a cheap double bacon cheeseburger or we like the feel of leather. Suffering caused for nothing more than fulfillment of sensual desire.
 
I understand, no one wants to see, experience or confront this violence…  watching an educational documentary on how animals are treated today in agriculture (such as "Earthlings") is hard to watch, but would be even harder to live.
 
To be honest, I never thought that I'd be the victim of such an impact. To the point that it would have such an immense influence on my health and spirituality.
 
For me, I SEVERELY underestimated how devastating the knowledge a movie like this imparts. I felt so mentally and emotionally exhausted after but also I felt an incredible sense of empowerment.
 
It lends an energy and purpose that tends to light a fire and push a person to be an integral part of ending the suffering.
 
On behalf of the billions and billions of animals who are suffering today, right this second...may your voice and actions be lent to them.
 
 

"Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal."

 

Ecclesiastes 3:19-20

 
 
… how is it that humanity has become so inhumane?
 
There is no NEED for this type of cruelty in today's society.
 
Everyone wants a better world, but few actually place the effort into modifying their behavior to BE the change to make that type of world. Be that change.
 
 

"You have just dined, and however scrupulously the slaughterhouse is concealed in the graceful distance of miles, there is complicity."

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

How to be an Asshole Attachment Parent

Being labeled as an asshole often plagues those who find themselves in the Natural Parenting niche.

In the natural/attachment/progressive/whatever-term-you-fancy parenting community, our passion is often times our own Achilles Heel in respects to overstepping boundaries and putting our foot in our mouths, albeit this problem festers deep within the mainstream just as much (have you seen some of those facebook pages, yiiiiikes).

No matter who started what or who the bigger ass is, I bring this issue up because I sincerely believe that we (the natural community) can begin to alleviate this problem between mainstream and alternative because we we are the ones advocating the value in attachment, respect and unity.

I think often times we don’t consider what other parents are experiencing because we are too busy (or simply refuse) to stop, look outside our own little bubble and, most importantly, value someone else’s choice.

I get it, breastfeeding – hey, you nailed it (me too), and if you had difficulties you pulled up your big-girl britches and dealt with it…and don’t even begin to mention the ethical concerns surrounding circumcision, the research reinforcing the detrimental effects of spanking and the  blah blah blah ….

I agree these issues are important and my heart is engulfed in the same advocacy, my friend. But there should be some reverence for the life another human being is actively choosing to live.

This doesn’t mean we will understand it nor does it mean we must validate it or approve it. Another person’s life is not up for our approval in the first place.

The bottom line is we must be more diligent in respecting the choices others make.

Generation X, Attachment Parenting and Over Compensation  

I’ll be the first to admit my guilt of totally saying things before I think (who hasn’t?).

            Hi, my name is Amanda and I’ve totally been an ass.

At times, maybe I’m quick to be offended…other times I’m quick to offend.

With everyone fixated with social media and publishing their opinion on pretty much everything (hey, myself included), we are flooded with perspectives that are different for our own every minute, every day.

From a sociological perspective, parents my age belong to a cohort that was molded by Nintendo, daycare, star wars and divorce. 

That’s not necessarily a bad thing (Star Wars is pretty damn awesome), however according one study, our generation “went through its all-important formative years as one of the least parented, least nurtured generations in U.S. history”.[*][*]  

This piece of knowledge married with a bit of Psych 101: What is unhealed from your own childhood will reveal itself when you have little tots of your own.  

And viola – attachment parenting is birthed (naturally, of course). 

Don’t get me wrong – again, I love the tenants of attachment parenting, the foundation of progressive parenting, and the community of natural parenting. I live by them, just like you (and write about them too).

I suspect that some (okay, many?) natural parents today may be fueled by a strong desire to do a better job at parenting than their parents did (I know this rings true to me). Again this isn’t a bad thing either.

However, where our natural community severely veers off tract is in two aspects (maybe more, but these are the two that I found myself affected by):

(1) given the crack-pot job some of our parents did (and the majority of other parents embracing mainstream choices in parenting), we are left with a real lack of constructive role models to go about showing us how to be a sufficient parent….leading often times to over-compensation…and hence, unwittingly acting like an ass.

(2) We see other children crying it out, formula fed by choice, rode in strollers, fed crap food – and subconsciously maybe we feel like if we help them, then we are helping our own childhood-self in some way. Because as children we cried it out, was fed junk food and left feeling a real lack of affection – and we didn’t “turn out just fine”.

It’s not all about being a product of divorced, overworked parents and latchkey programs.  Maybe every generation simply has unresolved issues with itself. 

I implore you, fellow AP parents: Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.

4 Easy Steps on how to become an Asshole Parent:

(with counter-steps on how NOT to become one)

Recognize and become familiar with your own tendencies to act callously toward others (no one is perfect and we can all improve treating others better). Hopefully, this list this will give us a great advantage to recognize (in yourself and in others) douche-bag  propensities - and with any luck, stop giving other natural parents a bad name.   

Step 1

Become an expert on something, anything – you pick.

Counter-step: Focus on learning and as soon as you think you know something entirely, your jerk-alert should go off.

Bonus Tip : You know, the more alternative parents get a real bad rap for this (aka santimommy), but if you think this is the only group of parents acting like a bunch of assholes, then you are poorly mistaken. No one is immune to falling prey to this step.

Pride yourself as a seeker not a know-it-all.

Step 2

Speak in absolutes.

“I will never ____.”

“My children always ____.”

“She should never _____.”

Counter-step: Be. Meticulous. About. The. Words. That. Come. Out. Of. Your. Mouth.

Bonus Tip: No matter how thoughtful you are with your words, at some point in time you are likely to offend someone – fact is, there are people out there scouring the ends of the Earth to be offended. The best you can do is to place effort into saying things with kindness and coming from a place of love.

Good luck!

Step 3

At every chance available to you, declare other people’s incompetence.

Counter-step: I know, this step is hard especially if you are learning about your own tendencies of overcompensation. No one is perfect and not everyone wants your two-cents on the subject. You may get burned a few times to eventually learn which of your friends appreciate your unique perspectives. Appreciate other’s point of view too and find value in it.

Bonus Tip: If a friend posts a picture of her child in the car, please refrain from commenting that the child in not properly restrained followed by links to carseat safety and video on youtube of the benefits of extended rearfacing. While I agree there is value in information – consider talking to her off record or send a private message.  

Step 4

You have a small list of close friends and a long list of enemies which you are equally proud of.

Counter-step: True, you can’t get along with everyone and its not your business to make everyone like you – but better yet, give your attention to that which you support and love, not that haters.

Bonus Tip: We’re all in this together, my friends. You can’t get rid of hate with hate, only love can do that.

Parents in the Natural community have another platform to push now – the one that unites us: mainstream and alternative.

United we can accomplish a better future for our children, better then we can ever imagine.

Stop.

Think.

Smile.

Encourage.

Or move Along.

The Anti-Vaccine Label

Be cautious of anyone quick to use the term ‘anti-vaccine’.

photo credit: gttorres.deviantart.com

I’ve found, quite often, that there are 3 possibilities to explain why a person will use this label to pigeonhole parents that show concern regarding the current schedule of vaccines used on children in the US:

(1) they mistakenly assume anyone who questions a product’s safety is consequentially against it in absolute terms;

(2) they tend to consider that vaccines are already being used as responsibly as they can be and the current schedule has been stringently tested for safety and efficacy;

(3) lastly, in a last ditch effort, they select a baited label, in this case ‘anti-vaccine’, to manipulate a person.

And, of course, anyone who disagrees with them is an idiot, which is then most likely to be followed by an insult and/or personal attack.

They may also generalize or over-simplify the topic that is being evaluated at that point in time in hopes to advert attention away from what is being addressed. This could be because they simply do not have any valid information to bring to the table.

When using generic labels, it makes it easier to ignore that the underlying motivation a parent has when deciding to vaccinate (either on schedule, delayed or declined completely) can be diverse.

After concerns are addressed, a family may come to a unique schedule with their healthcare provider and that should be respected.

In most cases, it is.

In others, it is not.

Someone who uses the label ‘anti-vaccine’ liberally may imagine themselves to be the gatekeepers of science.

Yet, the days of limited access to information are gone. (Some helpful, science-based sources can be found: CDC Pinkbook, Clinical Trial Search Engine, DOAJ-Directory of Open Access Journals, Science Direct, Vaccine Package Insert PDFs.)

Scientific information is publicly published and is readily available to whoever would like to review it. While this unquestionably this does not qualify anyone who reads it as being a specialist, it does mean that parents have the opportunity to become a critical influence and an active participant in the healthcare choices for their children and themselves.

Whether you decline (or become selective of) vaccination or if you decide to administer them all according to the current recommended schedule, I sincerely hope that we can all agree that there should be some development of responsibility and education on the side of the parent in the participation of their child(ren)’s health.

That should be the underlying principle pressed on parents – NOT slanderous pigeonholing, restrictive labels, and juvenile squabbling.

I like to believe all parents are doing the best they can (am I in the minority?) – choose what works best for your family while doing your best in honoring the rights of others to make that same choice.

This post reflects the research and concern that I have about vaccination.  I am not a medical professional. It does not represent my opinion of people who choose to vaccinate or not.  Please know that, while my family has made the decision to choose an alternative schedule, we respect the rights of all parents to choose to vaccinate if they feel this is best for their child.  I do not have all the answers.  Most of us don’t.  We’re all in this together and we need to make the best decision we can with the information we have.

The War on Unvaccinated America

Three children per thousand (0.03%) in the United States are completely unvaccinated.  Yet, the rise in anger and hostility toward these children and their families is becoming louder then ever before.[*]

If you are reading this, then it is safe to presume that you’ve been in some type of discussion or debate regarding vaccination status.

While we may all agree that selecting any medical intervention or medicine is a personal choice, it seems at the mere mention of vaccination every Tom, Dick and Harry has conjured up an opinion on the subject in a no-holds bar brawl.

In vaccine debates, you’ll most commonly witness juvenile name-calling and low blow attacks or criticism. Parents who choose an alternative schedule will be called ‘self-centered’, ‘stupid’ or ‘anti-doctor’ for not following the advice of their respected physician. [*]

Some will go on to suggest that people who are unvaccinated be somehow labeled to distinguish them out amongst the group or advocate for schools to reveal the vaccine history of their students. [*]

More will suggest that exemptions be revoked completely or at the very least become much more difficult to obtain – requiring an approval and signature from a licensed medical practitioner. 

Others offer more radical opinions (if the above wasn’t radical enough), suggesting Child Protective Services be contacted if a parent chooses to decline vaccines…or that children should be placed in someone else’s care in hopes for better medical care and attention.

It can also be observed where physical harm was wished upon parents or their children if they refuse to vaccinate.

"Fine, so long as these parents are forcibly exposed to the illnesses themselves. And if their children either die, or are permanently injured, criminal charges should be laid. Then we'll see how much they still believe in their voodoo-science......"[*][*]

Does the majority of trepidation and fear expressed against the small group of the unvaccinated stem from the various theories of herd immunity or does it go further than that …is it because there is a group that exists that does not believe, think, dance and act the same as the majority group does?

It's an issue I have with you, parent of the unvaccinated, not actually with your child. It's a feeling that you're not doing your part here; not holding up your end of the bargain. Vaccine efficacy depends, in part, on "herd immunity," and by choosing not to inoculate your child, you are failing the herd. I hold you responsible for the unnecessary illness of babies who were too young to yet be vaccinated. I definitely blame you for your own child's sickness - and I just have to remind you that it was preventable.[*]

A Moral Principle

No human being should view another person as being a means to an end, no matter how desirable that end may seem to be. [*][*][*]

The hazard of having an ideal such as forcible vaccination (barring acute medical reasons) and/or being combative (emotionally, mentally, socially, and physically) to those that resists such beliefs devalues the life of every human being.

The logic of sacrificing a few individuals (without consent) for the greater number of society is nothing novel.  Because of this, we must be diligent to consider the devastation and revolting crimes that was born when such ideals were accepted as truth.[*][*]

Voluntary consent married with adequate comprehension of each medical intervention is exceptionally fundamental as modern-day medicine develops and progresses.

A human body should never be perceived as a weapon in the arsenal of medicine against the war on viruses, cancer, or disease.

What Can be Done?

Whether you decline (or become selective of) vaccination or if you decide to administer all of them according to the current recommended schedule, there should be some development of responsibility in the participation as well as progressive education in your (or your child’s) health.

That should be the underlying principle pressed on parents – NOT mandatory vaccination, specifying vaccine status, public broadcast of vaccine records, contacting government agencies of neglect, or wishing ill of these children/parents.

I like to believe all parents are doing the best they can (am I in the minority?) – choose what works best for your family while honoring the rights of others to make that same choice.

This post reflects the research and concern that I have about vaccination.  I am not a medical professional. It does not represent my opinion of people who choose to vaccinate or not.  Please know that, while my family has made this decision, we respect the rights of all parents to choose to vaccinate if they feel this is best for their child.  I do not have all the answers.  Most of us don’t.  We’re all in this together and we need to make the best decision we can with the information we have.

This post contains some subject matter that was summarized by NVIC’s publication ‘The Moral Right to Conscientious, Personal Belief or Philosophical Exemption to Mandatory Vaccination Laws’ which was published May 2, 1997.

Other references are noted throughout post and marked with an asterisk with corresponding link following that paragraph.

The Guiding Light of Conscious Parenting: Body Autonomy

As a woman and a mother, I was blessed to experience the growth and giving of a life (two beautiful lives actually).

For 10 months, my daughters were a part me - our bodies were one. When I felt happy (or fearful), waves of hormones rushed through them and they felt as I did. 

My voice was theirs.

My destination, theirs.

However, when the time was ready, they detached and became their own.  

It is with incredible responsiblity and priviledge to be able teach our children how to nourish and protect their body. For me, there are two main approaches to developing body autonomy.

Modeling as a the Supreme Teacher for Psychological & Physical Autonomy

Modeling is the supreme route in which most of life's lessons can be instilled.

Having a body can be challenging work sometimes. We have to teach our children how to nourish it properly and protect it the best they can. This can be physical - simple, everyday things we may not give much thought to are becoming the building blocks in which our children learn to understand their bodies - using our seat belts, eating vegtables, growing a garden, brushing our teeth, exercising.  

However, in a psychological sense, children are particularly receptive to our response and actions in the most challenging times in our life. In these times, we may not want them to see us - we aren't normally in our best state when death, loss or basic frustration occurs in our life. However, we must not waver in our ability to be aware that a child is like a parched sponge in the hot desert sand - absorbing all of our actions and emotions at these times.

This in no way implies that we must attain perfection at all times  - there will be times, repeatedly, that we slip up.

We’ll have a rough day at work and be grumpy.

We’ll get into an argument with a friend and say something we don’t mean.

We’ll slam a door or raise our voice.

We’ll cry.

We’ll be quiet, and gloomy.

None of these actions or emotions are wrong.

What is problematic is letting these actions define who we are – showing a child their emotion identifies who they are.

Helpful to a child: "Sometimes you’ll feel mad/sad/scared and it’s normal.  Although you may feel this way sometimes, none of these feelings is who you are. You are beautiful, spirited, and loved."

Not helpful: "I get angry/sad/scared and this is just a part of who I am. I have a temper. I am just a depressed person. I have a phobia."

The key is awareness. For me, when I trip up, I am quick to acknowledge it to my kids in a way they can understand. Body autonomy is about the psychological as much as the physical.

Reverence for Their Body

  

As our children grow, it is important for us to teach them to develop ownership over their body. This is important because they will need this foundation as they grow-particularly girls. 

One example... In the past, I have written about piercing my daughters' ears and how, for me, this is a choice I decided against.

I know in the scope of things piercing my daughter’s ears doesn’t seem to be big deal. However, to me it can be if we let it (and I think there are good benefits if it is). I want my daughters to know that it’s not my place to modify their body.

I will help them trim their nails and keep their hair cut to a manageable length, until they have the means to do this management of their bodies themselves – but piercing does not enhance their quality of life, it’s painful and carries significant risks over, say, just changing a diaper or cleaning their ears. If I wait to allow them to decide if they would like their ears pierced or not, then there is an opportunity to learn responsibility in caring for it.

Spanking and physical punishment can also be addressed here. I do not support physical punishment (spanking) out of respecting my daughters’ body. Although I do agree to a certain point that a parent can spank a child and not hurt them physically (too much) – however, it is not about pain inflicted or reducing an unwanted behavior for a short time.

What it is about is imparting the lesson that it is never acceptable use physical force over another person for any reason. Avoiding physical punishment (spanking) also increases the opportunities you get to show your children language skills in resolving conflict –actually communicating about a problem…NOT smacking, spanking or hitting to get a problem to resolve itself.

..…

For just a short period of their lives children are a part of our body  - and then comes the time when we are blessed with the great responsibility in showing them what a precious and beautiful gift they are to this world.

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit,

not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Children Chapter IV by Khalil Gibran

Prescription Drugs and Violence

It’s not just illegal drugs that are associated with violent and aggressive behavior. A well documented correlation exists with many popular drugs (mainly antidepressants/antipsychotic) and acts of hostility, aggression and violence towards others (and ones-self). These pharmaceutical drugs which carry ‘black box’ warnings are increasing in the rate prescribed to adults and children in the US. Should we be surprised to be witnessing an increase in violence in our community and schools?

Increase in diagnosis and drug use

The bible for mental health professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists, etc),  ‘The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual’(DSM-5), makes it easy to fit every person and child into neatly defined categories of ‘mental illness’ and once a person is labeled with a specific mental illness(es) they can be prescribed powerful anti-psychotic drugs (even to children as young as 3 years of age) that may or may not be associated with violent or suicidal behavior.

The new revision for the DSM-5 will be published in May of this coming year (2013) and we are guaranteed to witness an increase (specifically in children) that are diagnosed with disorders that are treated with drugs that are associated with aggression. This increase will be to due to more lienant criteria to meet certain diagnoses (such as ADD and anxiety) and many new ‘disorders’ focused on children such as Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder. (If you have yet to read about DMDD may I suggest you do so- here is a good article that provides research that illustrates many flaws of this 'diagnosis' of kids with temper tantrums.)

Am I suggesting that mental health professionals are purposefully trying to push dangerous drugs on as many people as possible – absolutely not. These professionals are trying to help everyone that needs it, however, I think we need to be exceptionally cautious in three area of mental illness management: diagnosis, treatment, and long term use of pharmaceuticals. 

What you can do

If you are considering using or giving your child a drug, check out MedWatch in addition to talking to your doctor. This website is the FDA’s reporting system for adverse events and recalls associated with pharmaceutical drugs. There have been over 11,000 reported events to MedWatch for psychiatric drug side effects related to violence (between 2004-2011).

Speaking specifically to violence and aggressive behavior, check out RxIsk.org. On the website there is a section titled Violence Zone which allows you to enter the name of a drug and see the side effects relating to violence. The data is sorted in organized tables, heat maps, and tag clouds – even interactive graphs that show you what is happening with others taking that same drug around the globe.

RxIsk is a great resource. It is owned by the Data Based Medicine Americas (based in Toronto) and has an international reputation for finding early drug-side effects and risks.

If you are experiencing a side effect due to a pharmaceutical drug – please report it! Drug side effects are a leading cause of death and injury, yet less then 5 percent of serious side effects are reported.

Also, consider signing this petition which is targeting the Committee on Oversight & Government Reform. The petition is asking lawmakers to require an investigation into the role of psychiatric drugs and violence in relation to school shootings and similar acts of violence.

Top 10 associated with violence

Research published last year from ISMP (The Institute for Safe Medication Practices) raised concerns about violent side effects of some very popular antipsychotic drugs (most of which are antidepressants).

This list was reported in Time magazine which can be found here and read to its entirety. I also suggest reading the actual published research found here.

10. Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) An antidepressant which affects both serotonin and noradrenaline, this drug is 7.9 times more likely to be associated with violence than other drugs.

9. Venlafaxine (Effexor) A drug in the class of antidepressants, it used to treat anxiety disorders. Effexor is 8.3 times more likely than other drugs to be related to violent behavior.

8. Fluvoxamine (Luvox) An antidepressant that affects serotonin (SSRI), Luvox is 8.4 times more likely than other medications to be linked with violence

7. Triazolam (Halcion) A benzodiazepine which can be addictive, used to treat insomnia. Halcion is 8.7 times more likely to be linked with violence than other drugs, according to the study.

6. Atomoxetine (Strattera) Used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Strattera affects the neurotransmitter noradrenaline and is 9 times more likely to be linked with violence compared to the average medication.

5. Mefoquine (Lariam) A treatment for malaria, Lariam has long been linked with reports of bizarre behavior. It is 9.5 times more likely to be linked with violence than other drugs.

4. Amphetamines: (Various) Amphetamines are used to treat ADHD and affect the brain’s dopamine and noradrenaline systems. They are 9.6 times more likely to be linked to violence, compared to other drugs.

3. Paroxetine (Paxil) An SSRI antidepressant, Paxil is also linked with more severe withdrawal symptoms and a greater risk of birth defects compared to other medications in that class. It is 10.3 times more likely to be linked with violence compared to other drugs.

2. Fluoxetine (Prozac) The first well-known SSRI antidepressant, Prozac is 10.9 times more likely to be linked with violence in comparison with other medications.

1. Varenicline (Chantix) The anti-smoking medication Chantix affects the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, which helps reduce craving for smoking. Unfortunately, it’s 18 times more likely to be linked with violence compared to other drugs.

Conclusion

The research reported by the ISMP is valid and raises genuine concern about adverse violent events associated with a particular small group of drugs (of which many are given to children).

It is also significant to state that this report utilizes data from MedWatch which the FDA acknowledges only holds a fraction (1-5%) of side effects because of acute under-reporting.

Please read more about any prescription drug(s) you are considering on using, both on yourself or your child. Consider mentioning these websites if someone you love is using a prescription drug in their recovery process. Also, please contact a healthcare professional if someone you know starts acting aggressively, being disturbingly angry or shows violence to others or themselves.

Read more here:

Frances, Allen. DSM 5 will further inflate the ADD bubble. Psychology Today. Aug 2011

Szalavitz, Maia. Top ten legal drugs linked to violence. Time. Jan 2011

Moore, Thomas. Glenmullen, Joseph. Furberg, Curt. Prescription drugs associated with reports of violence towards others. PLOSOne. 2011

Huff, Ethan. Study reveals top ten violence-inducing prescription drugs. Natural News. Jan 2011

Another School Shooting, Another Psychiatric Drug? Federal Investigation Long Overdue. Citizens commission on human rights international. July 2012

Prescription-Drug-Induced Violence Medicine"s Best Kept Secret? News Guide US – News, articles, press releases. Nov 2012

FDA - MedWatch

RxIsk.org

Online Petition - Call for Federal Investigation of Psychiatric Drugs, School Shootings & Senseless Violence