Infomercial for Prozac

Mike Downey, in his May 16 column regarding the new Prozac infomercial, trivialized a medication that allows the despairing to join the majority of functioning people. I thought the “happy pill” myth went the way of the “catching AIDS from a handshake” scare. Prozac does not turn sad people into happy ones, but allows people paralyzed with depression to live a life worth living. People are dying from depression and this infomercial may reach some of the suffering.

His obsession with infomercials only raises the question of why he is watching hours of mindless television. How fortunate Downey is that he doesn’t need “Prozac--the quicker picker-upper.”

THOMAS ROTHMANN

Venice

*

Emotions, and even lack of emotions, act as a system of checks and balances, reflecting back to us what we need to attend to in order to maintain functional health. When 18 million Americans (Business, May 14) are at potential risk for becoming anti-depressant dependent it’s time to look at the primary cause, instead of prescribing for the symptoms.

Nowhere can it be found that there is a definitive gene for depression. However, with the number of depressed people being so high, it would appear that the “culture” is not in sync with what human beings can emotionally sustain.

I wholly support the movement to involve people as participants in all decisions regarding their health. Infomercials are not meant to inform; they are created to sell. This form of drug pushing is morally irresponsible, targeting an already vulnerable population.

GAYLE SANTOCHI

Marriage and Family Therapist

Los Angeles