Antidepressants and Violence

* The logic in Arianna Huffington’s May 10 piece (“Are We Fueling the Demons in Kids?”) is so twisted and backward that it defies any test of common sense. Her argument that it is antidepressant drugs that cause violent behavior incorrectly observes a correlation and clearly mistakes cause for result. Using the same logic, would Huffington observe people flocking to the beach on a sunny day and believe that it was the beachgoers who caused the sun to shine?

The fact that Eric Harris and other disturbed, violent teenagers were found to be using an antidepressent medication only illustrates that some sort of medical help and intervention was attempted and unfortunately fell short. These medicines are one tool used to help and save many teenagers’ lives. To believe that horrendous, violent acts are a side effect of this medication may deny its use and unfairly stigmatize those teenagers who need it most.

BARBARA DOBKIN

Los Angeles

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Mike Males’ article about not demonizing all teen culture after the Littleton shootings (Opinion, May 9) is a rare breath of reason in the midst of all the hysteria and grandstanding. I hope everyone takes a deep breath and a giant step backward and realizes that these kids don’t represent teens in general and that as disturbed as they were, if they hadn’t had guns no one would be dead.

MATTY PARK

Sylmar

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The gall of Christopher Keller (letter, May 9) to blame the killings on the other students. Teasing among students of all ages has been going on as long as there have been children. The killings have only been going on since the National Rifle Assn. has gotten so strong. I agree that the blame does belong to the parents. They should have been aware of what their children were doing. The principal is only one man and cannot possibly keep up with all the students’ personal lives.

I believe the NRA is responsible for the killings in Colorado and all other schools. The NRA works hard to make it easy to purchase guns and cop-killer bullets. Remember, a gun has only one function and that is to kill.

IRA J. HORN

Studio City