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How many pills are there today?  There are birth control pills, and weight control pills, and headache pills and anti-depressant pills.  There is a pill, it seems, for every occasion.  But who invented the ever-present pill and when?  Dr. William Upjohn developed the formula for what we might recognize as a pill in 1884 and patented it in 1885.  He and his brothers also invented a machine to mass-produce the newly invented friable pills.  And set about marketing his invention to doctors and consumers alike.

All this effort—the formula, the machine, the employees, the marketing—required a company.  And in 1886, William Upjohn established the Upjohn Pill and Granule Company (whose name was later shortened to Upjohn Company).  The pills quickly gained popularity and, as a result, by 1902 the Upjohn company was well on its way to becoming a multi-billion dollar enterprise.  It would remain as the recognized leader in the pharmaceutical industry for almost a century.

Despite (or perhaps because) of this, the Upjohn Company remained a family business long after William Upjohn’s death in 1932.  In 1995, the company merged with the Swedish pharmaceutical Pharmacia AB, which in turn merged with Pfizer in 2003.

In 2007, the pharmaceutical industry’s revenue totaled  $315 billion; in the fourth quarter of 2008 alone, Pfizer reported earnings of $12.3 Billion;  and I would wager that every single person reading this has at least one type of pill in their house.  And it all started in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1884.

            The first major ethical dilemma to be considered is whether the purpose for the study is to gain further scientific information about the drug, or if it is to create a marketable drug that will be profitable for the company (Green, 2008). This is a major ethical concern because of the conflict of interest that is formed by the pharmaceutical company conducting research about a drug that will later prove to be financially beneficial to the company. Companies that are just doing the research in order to create a marketable drug could leave out important information found during the trials that could damage the drug’s reputation, and marketability.

            Another ethical concern brought up by Steven Green in Ethics and the pharmaceutical

Industry, which is related to the first ethical concern, is that the researchers could inadvertently or advertently, leave out information found in the studies to create research that is not complete, and biased (2008). This could be purposely done in order to create a better profitable drug, or could be done as an accidental oversight by a researcher who is not well informed in areas of medical and mental health. These oversights could cause problems later on, after the development and production of the drug.

            Another ethical dilemma concerns the physicians who aid researchers in their studies. Pharmaceutical researchers hire physicians to contribute their knowledge, backgrounds, and practices to the study (Green, 2008). The ethical consideration is that these doctors could perhaps be swayed in their contribution by the generous amounts of money that the researchers are willing to offer them. For example, if a experiment is conducted that proves to be 80% negative, the pharmaceutical company could pay the doctor to focus on the 20% positive results from the test, and to downplay the negative. This practice would create very skewed results.

            Those three ethical dilemmas are the tip of the iceberg as far as the ethical implications of having a pharmaceutical company conduct research, but the issues all have one common thread: money. According to Justin Elliot, pharmaceutical companies $57.5 billion spent on promotions in 2008 (Elliot, 2008). With that amount of money being spent on promotions and research, there have to be checks and balances put into place to insure that pharmaceutical companies don’t take advantage of their position, and skew the results of their research.

Professionals in the mental health field have an obligation to prescribe medications that have been completed approved by the FDA, and have been properly researched by multiple channels, including the FDA. In order for a drug to be approved, the FDA completes three phases, and writes a report that has, on average, 100,000 pages pertaining to information about the drug, and trials. It takes about three years for the FDA to finish their approval process and approve a drug (Drugs.com, 2000-2009). This process is lengthy for a reason, and helps insure that the production of a drug is completed only when the drug truly shows beneficial properties. Pharmaceutical companies conducting research can be beneficial to society, and when the research is conducted with checks and balances put into place, quality control monitors, and a strong standard of accountability, the benefits will be tremendous. Pharmaceutical companies do have an invested interest in creating, producing, and selling drugs that work, and work well. In order to maintain unbiased and medically accurate results, the use of multiple researchers from a variety of settings will prove to have a greater benefit than just relaying on research from one lone company.

References

Drugs.com. (2000-2009). New Drug Approval Process

Elliott, J. (2008, September). Your Drug Dollars at Work. Mother Jones, 33(5), 54-54. Retrieved

September 14, 2009, from Academic Search Elite database.

Green, S. (2008, June). Ethics and the pharmaceutical industry. Australasian Psychiatry, 16(3),

158-165. Retrieved September 14, 2009, doi:10.1080

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Colourful Lingo

Many times I have seen advertisers use phrases like “this will make your fat explode!”. If you see it once, maybe it’s OK, but I would advise you to avoid the product if you see it consistently. You’re probably disagreeing with me and saying that the advertisers just want to be more colourful and appeal to you. Well, that’s true but it’s not too profession. Whenever you’re buying something you need to know what it is and what it does. What if a car salesman was speaking in metaphor and allegories such as “this car will blast through the universe” or “it’s like traveling at the speed of light” and other cheesy stuff. Other than getting annoying, you would probably want to know the reality of the product such as the actual max speed.

So in the previous case they were actually making a completely false statement, but in some cases, they might be saying the slightly exaggerated truth, and that truth can be even more dangerous. Let me give you an example. I read this ad claiming that the pills will “burn your temperature up and totally melt the fat away”. While it’s true that some weight loss pills do raise body temperature, and this can (to some extent) influence fat burning, there’s also the sad truth. The truth is I’m pretty sure we make pills to prevent you from “burning up”. Oh right, they’re called antipyretics and they’re given to people with a fever. We don’t know what they mean by “burning up”, whether it’s another one of their exaggerations (another reason why colourful lingo is not professional), but either way raising body temperature when it’s already normal by whatever extent is not advisable.

Personal product promises

Look at what the product promises. If they promise that you will lose a certain amount of weight, beware. People vary in metabolism, total fat and other factors. For them to predict how much you will lose is impossible and unprofessional in my opinion. If they show examples of people losing weight that’s a little bit better, but they could still be actors. This sort of like buying medication for a strep throat or something and you are offered a drug that promised you will be healed in two days! How the heck can it know? Beware these promises. I’ve seen people get pretty discouraged because they didn’t lose nearly as much as they were promised and blamed themselves (and their bodies) for it. If you are buying a product, buy it for its proper medical description and reputation rather than because of the promises it makes.

If it’s too good to be true, it probably is

I have seen some killer promises. One was that if I purchase some exercise plan (or pills I don’t remember) I’ll lose what ends up as 4-5 pounds of fat a day for the next couple of days. Whoa!!!! That’s amazing, well too bad it probably isn’t true. A pound of fat is about 3500 Calories, 4 and 5 pounds of fat are 14000 and 17500 Calories respectively. How the heck is that possible. A non-athlete’s metabolism is 1600-2000 Calories a day. So if you starve and lose 12000 Calories in exercise then maybe it’s possible. Good luck with that though, at the rate of 600 Calories lost per hour due to exercise, you’ll need only 20 hours. What it will do is dehydrate you and burn lots of your carbs (less dense than fat) and still not get close to what it promised. Also it’s bad to lose fat too fast. No more than 2-3 pounds of fat per week is advisable, so the question comes up, even if this were true, would you want to do it. I did use sort of an extreme example but the bottom line: If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.

Try to avoid the pills

Fat is stored energy. It’s saved for that rainy day when we can’t find any food to eat. In our society, that’s not a usual problem, so fat went from being our lifeline to our enemy. I always recommend people to lose their fat by exercise. This is the way it was meant to be used. Taking pills usually brings serious side effects. They’re not magic you know. They affect your body and health in many ways such as raising body temperature, increasing thyroid function, increasing heart rate, all of these are just examples of how they “melt” your fat away along with your health. Oh and just because it says natural on the front, doesn’t mean it’s good, lots of bad things are natural. Plus the only natural way to lose weight is exercise so how natural are the pills anyway.

Get professional help

Even if something looks like it’s good and healthy, get advice from a health care professional such as a doctor. If you have a certain illness or disease, you might not be able to take certain ingredients. If it’s an exercise program, then find out if it’s not too difficult for you. Pills and exercise are not a joke. People die because of either of these. Don’t think it can’t be you, because that’s the others thought. If they knew this would kill them, I’m pretty sure they tried something else. Be careful and be safe.

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Suicide is believed to be the third leading cause of death for teens in the United States of America, though there are many more attempts than actual suicide completions.  There are usually significant signs in teens before an attempt is ever made.  The ability of friends and others to recognize the signs that show a teen is at risk for suicide or is considering suicide is critical in suicide prevention. Those close to a teen considering suicide may notice significant changes in that person’s behavior, such as a change of friends, or neglect of friendships.  These changes may continue for quite some time and may be obvious in several areas of functioning. 

Stressful or traumatic life events can often lead to a suicide attempt in teens.  Friends should be aware that some things that don’t seem stressful for you may be stressful for them.  Some stressful events are sudden losses (death of a loved one, divorce of parents, etc.) or life changes (separation from loved ones, or other relationship changes, having a child or losing a child through miscarriage or abortion), physical (health, accidents, natural disasters, or war related events) or sexual trauma (childhood sexual abuse, date rape, rape, etc.).  Note that the trauma does not have to be personally experienced by a teen, but may be experienced in a person close to the one who actually experienced the event.  They may have personally experienced a traumatic event, seen a traumatic event or graphic images of the event, or simply have heard a graphic portrayal of the traumatic event in person, or in the media. 

A person who is suicidal for any reason needs to feel they have others in their life who love and care for them, and that there is hope for change in their life circumstances. Family members or friends of a teen considering suicide should never keep this kind of secret, even if you promised them you wouldn’t tell. They may be angry at you for a while, but they’ll get the help they need. When there seems to be no other sources of help, as a Christian friend, you may be their last hope.  If family and friends have rejected them, or tried to keep a suicide attempt a secret, or denied the problem exists, then you need to be willing to step up and be the one who stands in the gap for them, through your knowledge, support, and prayer.  Suicide situations need to be handled openly and truthfully, while getting as much help and support for the suicidal teen as possible.  When the responsibility for the person is shared by several helpful people in their life, then they will likely feel more loved and cared for by those around them. Helpful family members, close friends, teachers, ministers, counselors, doctors, and others are all good helpers for a person who is considering or has attempted suicide. 

When deciding if a teen you know has a plan, think about how deadly their plan is.  If a gun is involved the plan is more likely to cause death. Jumping from high places or hanging themselves, are more deadly plans than taking pills or cutting wrists.  Think about whether or not the plan is realistic and if they have access to what they need to carry out the plan.  Think about if the plan has specific elements such as time, place, technique, etc.  High risk activities are writing notes, emails, texts, or letters stating suicidal intentions, or giving away personal items, collecting pills or other deadly substances, having access to a gun, or another potentially deadly weapon. If the plan is obviously unrealistic, or seems confusing, a mental or emotional disorder may be present, and help should be sought out.  If a realistic plan or an attempt has been made, always seek help immediately.  If you are with a friend who threatens or attempts suicide, get help from an adult immediately. Call 911 first, then others who are needed.  A parent or other loved one should not be called first to the scene, without notifying proper authorities. If the suicide threat is successfully completed, loved ones may come upon the scene with no one else there to support them in the time of crisis.

Some warning signs to look for are:

• Previous suicide attempts
• Prior history of sexual, physical, verbal,      and/or emotional abuse
• Verbalized or written threats
• Knowledge of methods of suicide
• Feelings of hopelessness/helplessness
• Words of anger at self or others
• Themes of death and depression in verbal, written, or artistic form
• Giving away important possessions
• Talk of not being missed if gone
• Self-abusive behaviors (cutting, taking pills, excessive piercing, etc.)
• Recent loss by death or separation (parent or other loved one, pet)
• Personality changes (Withdrawal, aggressiveness, moodiness)
• High Risk behaviors (promiscuity, drugs, alcohol, reckless driving)
• Change in academic performance/ skipping school
• Running away
• Physical symptoms ( headaches, stomach aches, eating and sleeping disorders)
• Ignoring personal appearance (not bathing, combing hair, etc.)

When a teen shows signs of suicidal thinking, you should:

• Listen carefully to how they are feeling, while encouraging them to talk to you or another trusted person.
• Be truthful about your feelings of being scared, worried, or uncertain.
• Share your own experiences of feeling sad, hurt, alone, and helpless.  Let them know they are not alone in these feelings. 
• Get help when suicidal thoughts are known.  Seek help from teachers, counselors, ministers, local crisis centers.
• Let them know that there are other options than suicide, and that suicide is an unchangeable answer to a changeable problem. 
• In the event that a suicide threat occurs with an obvious plan, call 911 immediately, then other necessary parties. 

1. Milk:

   Milk has an essential amino acid called Tryptophan which relaxes our brain and helps alleviate insomnia by inducing normal sleep; reduces anxiety and depression, and welcomes sleep. The calcium in milk relaxes our muscles. So it is better to drink a cup of lukewarm milk before sleeping.

2. Honey:

   The glucose in honey switches off the neurotransmitter Arexin (Arexin induces insomnia by keeping the brain active) of our brain. Take a teaspoon of honey in a cup of lukewarm milk or herbal tea before sleeping.

3. Potato:

   Potato prevents the action of acids in our stomach that disturb our sleep. Take a boiled and mashed potato with milk before sleeping to have a peaceful sleep.

4. Banana:

   Banana is rich in hormones like Serotonin and Melatonin which induce sleep. The Magnesium in banana relaxes muscles and enhances sleep.

5. Almond:

   The natural relaxant Tryptophan and the muscle relaxant Magnesium in almond enhance sleep. So take almond for undisturbed sleep.

6. Oatmeal:

   Oat meal is rich in Melatonin which helps us fight insomnia. Take a cup of oatmeal before sleeping for a happy sleep.

7. Wheat bread:

   The wheat bran bread helps in releasing sufficient insulin to supply Tryptophan to brain. Consequently brain releases signals for sleeping. Take wheat bran bread with tea or honey before sleeping for relaxed sleep.

So use the above foods before sleeping and relax. If you find these are not promoting sleep then find out the reasons which disturb your sleep. If necessary consult a physician.