Op-Ed
Prozac and alcohol should not be mixed
Letters
September 20, 2006 - 1:00amRe: “Inebriation Nation,” Opinion, Sept. 18
To the Editor:
In response to Carrie Bodner’s article on categories of drinkers at Cornell, I’d like to ask what possessed her to write that depressed, emotional drinkers are “best paired up with Prozac and patient friends.” While most likely intended as a joke, Carrie’s suggestion is grossly irresponsible — a combination of such drugs can be fatal. Anti-depressants and alcohol have a synergistic effect, increasing drowsiness and intoxication. Combining the two drug types can increase the likelihood of cardiac arrest or long-term brain damage. There are emotionally vulnerable students and naive new students on campus who, after reading Carrie’s column, might try such a combination to fix their short-term problems.
Beyond the serious medical dangers, Carrie Bodner’s statements provide a perfect example of the stereotype of wealthy, overmedicated teenagers. A student on Prozac or Zoloft is not the norm and should not be promoted as such. A good portion of students on anti-depressants probably don’t need them, and it is reckless to recommend frivolously obtaining prescriptions for anti-psychotic drugs. Therapy and counseling are much better first alternatives, and, if drugs are required, the student should include emotional counseling as part of the treatment.
Eric J. Fish ’08
What makes you assume that
What makes you assume that " A good portion of students on anti-depressants probably don’t need them"? Are you a doctor? Have you done (or read) studies to support your assertion? I agree that people taking antidepressants such as Zoloft and Prozac should not be drinking to excess due to drug/alcohol interactions. That fact, however, doesn't lead to the generalization that students are 'overmedicated' or 'naive' if they take doctor-prescribed medication for emotional/psychological conditions.
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How often is this mix being used by teenagers ?