Scientists would like to add Lithium (psychiatric medication), to our drinking water ("could prevent some suicides").
Not so sure I agree this is the right plan of action to fight suicide. Although I do believe more should be done to help people using outreach.
I have questions. Ex: What if you drink a LOT more water than the average person?
Side effects?
#Science #Futurism #Water #Medication #Lithium #Drugs #Scientists #technocracy
https://futurism.com/neoscope/adding-psychoactive-drug-water
@RTP How do you add Lithiumn to water, it reacts to form LiOH, unless they are planning to add a Lithium compound, I know we add flourine to water for teeth.
At this rate, tap water won't even be tap water it will be some concoction of chemicals that combined could have long term side effects.
@zleap Another "more official" source:
https://nypost.com/2020/08/05/lithium-laced-drinking-water-could-curb-suicide-rates/
I'm sure they have methods to introduce w/out degradation.
Either way I agree and consider longer term implications: if this "goes well", what else could become "reasonable" to add over the next several years... 🤔 🚿 🚰
@RTP Thing is why are people committing suicide in the first place, surely we need to find that out and address that rather then trying to solve everything with drugs or chemicals.
Maybe it is our lifestyles, or in the pandemic long isolation during the pandemic. So a chance in how we live could be in order to resolve some of these issues.
@zleap This. Exactly this. 👏
speculation
Indeed, We need to look at the underlying cause of mental health issues. Of course, prescribing people a walk in the park doesn't make drug companies huge profits.
I watched a documentary a few years ago, doctor tried meditation with a young person with ADHD as an alternative to Ritalin, his appetite was better, better sleep and better at school, no drugs needed.
The meditation helped with breathing and relaxing. it seemed to work.
Looking at the side effects of Ritalin it is scary, (cite the Materials Safety Data Sheet) lots of what look like nasty side effects (neurological damage for example)
We banned hitting kids with the cane in what it seems in favour of using drugs, I appreciate caning is not legal but are these kids any better off being pumped (or fed ) with drugs that cause unseen internal damage.
In some cases perhaps one of the causes of ADHD is all the additives and chemicals added to food.
speculation
This is a personal topic to me:
I was forced (against my will) to take ritalin for yrs as a child: solely because I had an imagination and enjoyed drawing cartoons, creating things in class. That was it. I wasn't a trouble maker. I just liked to create.
I still recall having to pretend to take it (cheeking it then hiding in couch) because I *really* disliked the way it made me feel (ie: like an automated robot/zombie w/no socialization).
👍 #Meditation > ritalin.
speculation
@zleap
Indeed we cannot overstate enough the importance of green spaces, including private #greenSpace and large #trees on #publicHealth generally, including #mentalHealth.
Taking walks amongst #largeTrees and spending time at naturally occuring #mudBath retreats can (and was) prescribed by #doctors in the past century.
We know someone who's life benefitted greatly from at least one trip to such a #retreat.
#Minerals
@kakure @RTP