Prescription drug addiction is a hidden epidemic, affecting at least half a million people in the UK and twice that number in the USA, and ruining careers, marriages, families, and lives. With reliable information and support, however, this problem can be tackled. This book suggests a number of positive ways to beat this addiction.Topics covered include: drugs used to treat psychological symptoms and problems, including tranquillisers, sleeping tablets, antidepressants, and others (antipsychotics, mood-stabilisers, dementia treatments, stimulants, and illicit drugs); what they are used for, who takes them, and why (eg, anxiety, insomnia, and depression); how such drugs may interfere with work, leisure and family relationships; alternatives to medication such as counselling, cognitive-behavioural therapy, psychotherapy, meditation, relaxation exercises, and life-style changes; types of tranquilliser and sleeping tablet, alcohol as a tranquilliser, types of antidepressant and how they work on the brain; what is withdrawal and why bother to stop? the process of coming off (advice from professionals and from client/patient groups, support groups, other methods of coping, staying in control, checking physical condition etc. ); and, coming off other medications used in psychiatry.

Author Biography

Professor Malcolm Lader is Professor of Clinical Psychopharmacology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, University of London; an Honorary Consultant at the Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospital; member of the Medical Research Council; and advisor to the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Defence and Transport. His experience in psychiatry, anxiety, sleep and depressive disorders and drug treatment problems. now extends to over 35 years. He is the author of 15 books.