Addressing the broader topic of drug dependence by doctors and patients, we are definitely a quick fix culture. However, I think the real problem lies in that fact that there's usually no follow-up once a medication has been prescribed to changed the things that may have brought on the need for pills in the first place.
Depression is usually caused by a chemical reaction (or lack there-of) as well as a result of life situations. Anti-depressants can be used very successfully for the short term to alter chemistry and get the patient out of the deep well and into more manageable waters and deal with the situation causing the problem. Six months or a year on anti-depressants may work as a great bridge for someone stuck in depression and they can probably live successfully without the drugs IF they deal with the cause. But, the pills alone should not be the long term solution.
Even people with permanent chemical imbalances and who need to take anti-depressants on a permanent basis usually have other issues that contribute to the problem. (A lot of depressed people self medicate with OTC drugs, alcohol and illegal drugs).
Sadly, the people that seem to REALLY NEED to address their chemical imbalances are the ones who seem to be the more "stoic" of the population. (Or, maybe it's just delution.
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