By Susan Shotthafer
Leaving the classroom, Arron told me, “I couldn’t settle down today. I forgot to take my pill. I have ADHD.”
My thoughts returned to the recent Florida high school shooting, my research about the prescribed psychiatric drugs connection to mass shootings, and Dr. Peter Breggin’s extensive work on this topic including ADHD drug consequences.
Listening to Dennis Prager’s numerous discussions about the Florida shooting, the psychiatric drugs and mass shootings relationship appeared unknown to special guests or callers and even to Dennis. Would nihilistic leftists and their media’s reliance on victimhood to advance Second Amendment obliteration broadcast such critical information?
Putting aside very significant psychiatric drugs’ physiological harm including violence potential, other societal consequences remain. Port Angeles’ School Board adopted the FLASH sex education program purporting to emphasize abstinence. Factually, with a social justice bent, FLASH emphasizes reliance on contraceptive drugs, teaching dependency not self-control, not delayed gratification.
Proponents speaking in favor of the school-based health center outnumbered opponents about 10 -1. A primary reason given was facilitation of access, but not just for Medicaid students. Employed parents wouldn’t miss work to take their children to the doctor and physical exams for sports would be more convenient.
Public schools offer free breakfast for all students, free lunch for 51% percent of PASD students, and if eligible, completing free lunch paperwork in middle school, maintaining a C grade, and absence of felony charges will provide free college.
If school boards thought voters would approve, how soon would we find a ballot measure to provide K-12 public school dormitories for students whose parents work at night, students dissatisfied with home environment, parents needing a respite from parenting, homeless students, ad infinitum.
Ultimately, searching for truth, mass shootings causes take numerous paths arriving at the same sources of our American society’s ailments—progressivism’s appeal to human nature’s weaknesses, undermining of the family unit and religion, the promotion of dependency, and degeneration of individual self-worth.
Does HDHD drug use to remedy hyperactivity add just one more way to generate Nanny State dependency? Then, after the next mass shooting, again the public will ask, “Why?” Many will blame “the guns.”
Note: Professional research advises the use of initials instead of full names to deprive the killers of sought notoriety.
Since the Columbine mass shooting, perpetrators prescribed psychiatric drugs totaled 36 school shootings—80 murdered, 172 injured.
Other additional, more recent “gun free” zone slaughters include: Aurora, Colorado killer, J.H., taking sertraline, murdered 12, wounded 58; Naval ship yard killer, A.A., using Trazadone, killed 13 injured 3; Carthage, North Carolina, R.S. taking Ambien, murdered 8; Fort Hood, I.L., using Ambien, killed 4, wounded 16; Las Vegas, (not a gun free zone) S. P. using Valium murdered 58 wounded 489.
Psychiatrist Peter Breggin, has led psychiatric reform since 1954, testifying on psychoactive drugs risks before the U.S. Congress, House Committee on Veterans Affairs, FAA, and FDA about prescribed psychoactive drugs, stimulants, anti-depressants, etc. causing permanent change in brain chemistry, permanent brain damage, irreparable damage to body organs and shortened life-spans. Dr. Breggin has investigated dozens of cases involving suicide, violent crimes, and prescribed antidepressants.
Antidepressants (most dangerous, Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Effexor, Celexa) followed by Amphetamines prescribed to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, are most commonly related to violence.
Public agencies and families acquire a false sense of security once patients receive psychiatric treatment including drugs.
Dr. Breggin advises increased training for our existing mental health system will generate more drugging.” To reduce violence, Dr. Breggin advises:
“[S]top drugging our children and youth to control their feelings, thoughts and actions.”
Establish state mandated “public disclosure of any and all drugs [previously} prescribed to violent perpetrators” to compile evidence of drug harm.
Provide well-advertised state designated online and telephone reporting sites, to facilitate local responses to threats.
Utilize psychosocial interventions, including empathetic therapy for individuals and their families.
Equally vital, limit the slaughter on site. Stop violating the inalienable, natural right to-defense. Support legislation allowing willing, trained, teachers and administrators to protect students and themselves with firearms.
(Susan Shotthafer is a CCRP elected PCO and former elected PA School Board member.)
