If you’ve been a reader of mine for a while, you’re probably aware that I’m a people watcher.

And my favorite places to observe people are airports, grocery stores and pharmacies.

I stopped in my local Walgreens not long ago to get some melatonin for my 17 year-old cat and saw five people in line to pick up prescriptions, plus three others seated (presumably waiting for their prescriptions to be filled), and a steady stream of cars going through the drive-thru.

And I’ve got to be honest—none of the people I could see looked even remotely healthy. Severely overweight, visibly in pain and struggling to walk and/or breathe is more like it.

While medications are rightfully needed at times, it’s gotten to the point where the majority of us are drugged every single day, and a sizable percentage of those are taking multiple medications!

How did we get here?

Well, one of the answers lies in…

Pharmaceutical company advertising

Did you know that in most other countries, prescription drugs can only be advertised to physicians?

But in the US, drug companies can market their products directly to consumers—and they do it extremely well. (It’s also allowed in New Zealand, by the way.)

You can’t open a magazine, watch TV or look up anything on most “health” (aka drug company-funded) websites without being barraged by invitations to “Ask your doctor if XYZ drug is right for you.”

And if you don’t think advertising like this has an impact on our drug use, then there’s a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to sell you.

Although the US comprises only 5% of the world’s population, we consume 75% of the world’s prescription drugs.

That’s nothing to celebrate, folks.

Plus remember, most doctors don’t have time to research these drugs—they frequently rely on what the company sales rep tells them. And you can rest assured that the side effects and adverse reactions are seriously downplayed.

Several ex-drug rep whistleblowers have come forth telling their stories of how they were instructed to do exactly that.

A disturbing trend

The class of drugs that has shown the greatest increase in use is mind-altering, body-numbing drugs—specifically ADHD drugs, anti-anxiety drugs, painkillers and antidepressants.

Here’s the scoop on each of those:

ADHD drugs

Currently about one in seven US children is diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by the time they turn 18, and 70 percent of those take ADHD drugs.

Plus ADHD medications have become “cognition enhancers” among college students and young professionals.

If you think these drugs are “mild,” you couldn’t be more wrong.

They're Class 2 narcotics with side effects including:

• Permanent brain damage

• Increased risk of rare cancers

• Suicide

• Aggressive behavior 

• Psychotic symptoms 

• Sudden death 

• Heart attack 

• Seizures 

Let me gently remind you that while these drugs are being taken by our kids in record numbers, we’re also seeing more and more shootings and acts of violence in our schools.

Anti-anxiety medications

These include benzodiazepines such as Valium, Xanax, Klonopin and Ativan.

Side effects from benzodiazepines include suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, drowsiness, dizziness, change in sex drive/ability, and memory problems.

Painkillers

In addition to the obvious risk of addiction, issues associated with painkillers include liver damage, kidney failure, high blood pressure, and increased heart attack risk.

Plus tolerance also kicks in, meaning you’ll eventually need stronger and stronger doses to get the same pain relief effect.

Antidepressants

Antidepressant side effects include nausea, nervousness, headaches, sleepiness, sexual dysfunction, dizziness, digestive problems and weight gain.

Plus studies continue to show that antidepressants do not work as advertised. Most disturbingly, they can cause suicidal and homicidal tendencies.

And if you don’t think that there’s even remote connection between these potential “side effects” and the acts of aggression and violence in this country, think deeper.

Help create real health!

There is plenty you can do to help create a state of health safely and naturally, so that you are less likely to need prescription drugs to begin with! 

Here are some strategies you can try:

Rely on the farmer—not the pharmacy

Having a nutritious diet of real foods is the single most important step you can take. Nutrient deficiencies are significant factors behind most illnesses and diseases.

For example, kids with ADHD are commonly deficient in magnesium, iron, zinc and vitamin B6.

People with depression are frequently lacking B vitamins, vitamin C, zinc and magnesium. 

Cancer is also linked to diet—lacking selenium, zinc, and vitamins A, D and E.

If you think your diet may be falling short, a top-notch multi-vitamin and mineral formula like Super Core Multi-Vitamin and Mineral Formula can help pinch-hit where you may need it.

Support your immune system with Vitamin D 

Your immune system not only protects you against infections and viruses, but also cancer and heart disease!

Vitamin D is crucial to proper immune function, but unfortunately, it happens to be a very common deficiency—especially in the northeastern US where sunlight is limited and hence your skin cannot manufacture vitamin D like it should.

In addition to getting brief periods of unprotected sun exposure (20-30 minutes tops and never getting a sunburn), you can help ensure your vitamin D levels are health-supporting with Optimum DK Formula with FruiteX-B!

Optimum DK provides 5,000 IUs of vitamin D3, plus vitamin K and the mineral boron. This awesome trio of nutrients can not only support immune health, but also heart and bone health as well!

Ask your doctor about alternatives

Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor about safer alternatives to medications.

Your doctor is supposed to be your partner in health, so they should be open to addressing your questions and concerns.

Medications do have a place in our society and occasionally they are necessary. But we’ve gone WAY overboard and it’s only getting worse.

So now more than ever it’s important to do your part to make sure your body and mind function like they are supposed to!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia