CCHR Mental Watchdog Group Reports 78 Million People are on Psychiatric Drugs

CLEARWATER, Fla., May 18, 2017 -- The Florida Chapter of The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a non-profit mental health watchdog organization established by the Church of Scientology and Dr. Thomas Szasz in 1969 is hosting an open house at their center located at 109 N. Fort Harrison Avenue in downtown Clearwater for the purpose of raising awareness on the dangerous side effects of psychiatric drugs during Mental Health Month.

CCHR Florida reported that according to information from IMS Health, a company that provides information, services and technology for the healthcare industry, there are over 78 millionⁱ people taking psychiatric drugs.  Here in the United States, more than a quarter of the adult female population is taking at least one psychiatric drugⁱⁱ and there has been a 22% increase overall in the number of adults on a psychiatric drug with more than one in five adults on at least one such drug in 2010.​  Alarmed by these statistics, the Florida chapter for CCHR is hosting an open house for Mental Health Month in order to raise public awareness on the dangers of psychiatric drugs. The public is invited to come to the center to learn more and for a tour of the Psychiatry: An Industry of Death museum – tours are free and the center is open seven days a week.

Since 1949, May has been observed as Mental Health Month for the stated purpose of educating people on mental health issues but when such things as exercising too much or too little are viewed as signs of potential mental illness and are promoted during the month it would seem that education is not the primary focus. Individuals interested in learning more about mental illness are driven via posters and social media to websites where they can take a series of quizzes called screening tools which are touted as the quickest and easiest way to determine if someone is experiencing “symptoms” of a mental health condition. 

“These quizzes are designed to generate more consumers for the $330 billion dollar a year psychiatric treatment industry,” said Diane Stein, President of CCHR Florida.  “What these screens don’t tell a person is that there are dangerous side effects to taking psychiatric drugs and that antidepressants can lead to suicide. Suicide rates are continuing to climb yet these drugs are still being prescribed in ever increasing numbers.” ⁱⁱⁱ

In comparison to other developed countries, Americans use more medicines overall and rank first in the use of antipsychotics.^iv  Additionally, in the South Atlantic area of the country, which includes Florida, almost 18%^v of the population is on at least one psychiatric drug and a report released in 2011^vi from a two-year long investigation found that foster children in Florida were prescribed psychotropic drugs at rates 2.7 to 4.5 times higher than other children in Medicaid in 2008.^vii

The CCHR Florida Mental Health Month Open House runs for the entire month of May. Individuals are invited to the center to learn more about the dangers associated with psychiatric drugs as well as alternatives to medication. To learn more, please call 727-442-8820 or visit www.cchrflorida.org.

About CCHR:
Initially established by the Church of Scientology and renowned psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz in 1969, CCHR’s mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections. It was L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, who brought the terror of psychiatric imprisonment to the notice of the world.  In March 1969, he said, “Thousands and thousands are seized without process of law, every week, over the ‘free world’ tortured, castrated, killed.  All in the name of ‘mental health.’” For more information visit, www.cchrflorida.org

ⁱ https://www.cchrint.org/psychiatric-drugs/people-taking-psychiatric-drugs/

ⁱⁱ http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/documents/s19032en/s19032en.pdf

ⁱⁱⁱ http://www.medicaldaily.com/why-do-antidepressants-raise-your-suicide-risk-surprising-science-behind-paradoxical-reactions

^iv http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/americans-spend-much-pharmaceuticals/

^v http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/documents/s19032en/s19032en.pdf

^vi http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d12270t.pdf

^vii http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2011/12/01/143017520/foster-kids-even-infants-more-likely-to-be-given-psychotropic-drugs

Media Contact:
Diane Stein
President, CCHR Florida
727-442-8820
[email protected]
www.cchrflorida.org