benzos in tv programs and movies

[[ev...]]

Hi everyone

 

Last year after hearing the names of different benzos coming out of the mouths of actors and one politician in Australia, I decided to write a letter about it which was published in The Age- the broadsheet newspaper in Melbourne. This is it:

 

When Kevin Rudd recently urged those involved in leadership speculation to “take a mogadon”, he unwittingly demonstrated how much benzodiazepines have become part of the fabric of Australian society. Screenwriters, playwrights and novelists routinely put the names of these drugs into the mouths of their characters. Only this week I heard in Joanna Murray-Smith’s “The Gift” a young woman- distraught that she had to return a Golden Retriever to the Guide Dogs after training- express the need “to pop a Xanax”. Sadly, this got laughs from some of the audience. Yet the presence of benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Mogadon, Temazepam, Diazepam, Ativan and Rivotril on the list of best selling drugs is something our society should be deeply concerned about. That is why I read with pleasure about the launch of the Australian Patients Association (Woman to sue over ‘wrong’ drug 17/6). It is to be hoped that as a result revelations about individual’s experiences of the impact of dependency and withdrawal from these highly addictive and dangerous drugs will at long last prompt the federal government to intervene in order to halt their blatant over-prescription.

 

I had two conversations with the letter-to-the-editors editor about it. She wanted to make sure that everything I said was accurate. She also said the reason for publishing this letter was that it was "clever".

 

Ever since my unfortunate expereince with benzos and other psychiatric drugs my ear is on alert for the appearance of various drugs in conversations on the TV and in movies. As a result I am hearing these names on a regular basis particularly in American productions but also in Australian and British ones.

 

Woody Allen seems to feel that some of his characters should take Valium for the problems they are dealing with. There was a reference to this benzo in the excellent Midnight in Paris. I enjoyed the movie so much I decided to get Annie Hall out of the library and not surpringly the characters in that 1970s movie were taking Valium to soothe their nerves too. So things haven't changed in spite of all the lives which have been ruined in the meantime.

 

And Carrie in the brilliant Homeland is prescribed Ativan at a hospital and is then given Clonazepam on top of it in episode 11 of series one.

 

So it seems to me that life in the USA- if the TV and movies are anything to go by- has benzos as a feature whenever things go wrong.

 

My point here is that if we want to raise awareness about these drugs, doing something quirky like highlighting the use of these drugs by writers every time it happens might be a good way of gaining the public's atttention.

 

I am not a tweeter but am aware that this is one way of getting a following and getting a message out. Has anyone got some good ideas about how Twitter or other forms of social media could achieve something to draw attention to the awful over-prescription of benzos and psychiatric drugs by making a point every time a drug is referred to.

 

Just a thought.

 

Ivan

 

[[fi...]]

One doctor told me that benzos are way over-prescribed.  He, however, was unaware of how difficult it can be to come off of these drugs.

 

fg

[[Ho...]]

on The Bold and the Beautiful Hope is now addicted to Xanax thanks to a bottle her psych gave her.

[[Ho...]]

I also told the B and B Facebook group that if they want to do a realistic storyline on benzos and their effects I know of a group of people who would be able to help them if needed 

[[ev...]]

I would only be too pleased to participate.

 

Ivan

[[mp...]]

I am a real movie fanatic, always thought I was into detail, however....when I was able to force myself out to see movies, I noticed for the first time (duh) how often people said they would just pop a Valium or xanax. Now I see/hear it's in nearly every movie based in modern day and "hip" t.v. show! I wish my short term memory was better, so I could list the titles of those I have seen recently, but right now I just can't do it.  It's always said with a laugh - hey, was it in "Bridesmaids" where they are on the plane to Vegas? Not funny, I really hated that move, not just for casual drug overdose usage. The sad thing is that unless you or one you are close to is in/has been in benzo Hell, no one cares....at all!

[[mp...]]

On this weeks RHONJ, young woman is very artistically creative, but can't seem to find any direction, as her parents say, complained of depression. She was taken to a Dr for help, and given .....

Xanax.  It wasn't stated how long she had been on it, or if she had stopped taking it but now, her mother is worried that the young woman now "has developed all these fears and anxieties that she never had before." The young woman is now afraid to be alone, afraid to fly, aftaid to do alot of things she used to enjoy. She is filled with anxiety.

 

Do we smell a vicious benzo cycle here, yes. I know the mom thinks that she is helping her daughter, but she sits at home and cries because she cannot "manage" her wayward daughter.

 

This really made me sad, then mad. I know reality shows are not real life, but the situation is all to indicative of the "Rx is the answer to all your ills" society we have been living in the past 25 years.

 

We must break through and get the story told about benzo poison. We have to be tough enough to make this break from throwing dangerous chemicals at problems I now don't think exist. Well, to say they don't exist is wrong of me. But I do believe the things that drove us to taking benzos could be handled with, most of all, simple human compassion and UNDERSTANDING. From my own story to almost every story I've read here, it seems to me that if someone would have truly listened to our original issues (yes, it's true, I've never stated mine, not ready) and shown understanding and support, this horrible, vial poison wouldn't have touched our lips.

 

Also in the news, one of the people involved in The Senator Who Cheated On His Dying Wife court case is stating that his memory of events is muddled directly to the use/overuse of our poison - cousin, Ambien (to get his zzzzzzzzzzz ). Realistic defense for culpability?  I know what Dr. Breggin would say.

 

Be well everybody.

 

M.

[[St...]]

A few weeks ago, on the NBC serial drama "Smash" (new US show about making a broadway musical) one of the lead characters was having vocal problems and anxiety, and you see her popping prednisone and Klonopin at an increasing rate. I almost fell over! I wanted to reach across the TV, take those pills from her hands, and say "STOP NOW."

I was hoping they'd follow the storyline to show her spiraling - and then there could be some real teaching from it.

She had one out-of-control episode (lost her job as a chorus girl), but they attributed it more to alcohol than the pills.

Then they just kind of dropped the whole pill-popping thread - I guess other topics were better for ratings.

Teaching Opportunity LOST.

BUMMER.

 

[[mp...]]

A few weeks ago, on the NBC serial drama "Smash" (new US show about making a broadway musical) one of the lead characters was having vocal problems and anxiety, and you see her popping prednisone and Klonopin at an increasing rate. I almost fell over! I wanted to reach across the TV, take those pills from her hands, and say "STOP NOW."

I was hoping they'd follow the storyline to show her spiraling - and then there could be some real teaching from it.

She had one out-of-control episode (lost her job as a chorus girl), but they attributed it more to alcohol than the pills.

Then they just kind of dropped the whole pill-popping thread - I guess other topics were better for ratings.

Teaching Opportunity LOST.

BUMMER.

 

I know! I am a devotee of that show I was so ready and excited for that story to break open. But, even though it looked like they were really building up to something, they seemed to erase that particular thread on their story "cloth"

 

They seemed to be using the drugs/alcohol more as a morality tool. I find the show very manipulative in that they use a heavy hand to make us like/dislike different character week to week.

 

I will not miss the show because I love the musical performances, BTW.

 

So, I am quite sure that we will not be seeing a lesson taught from that show, indeed, a sorrowfully missed opportunity. 

 

M.