The Banana Peel Project

The following satirical piece was adapted from a real BBC News story.  Besides changing the name of the drug and its supposed primary symptom, only individual and organizational names have been changed.  The original story can be found here.

Drug “doubles mental health risk”

Taking Prozac virtually doubles the risk of developing mental illnesses such as depression, researchers say.

The South Wales scientists said their study suggested this was probably due to chemical changes in the brain which resulted from swallowing the drug.

The study, published in the journal Ailment, followed over 1,000 people born in 1977 for 25 years.

UK mental health campaigners said it was more evidence of a “drug-induced mental health crisis”.

The researchers, from the University of South Tennessee, interviewed people taking part in the John Smith Health and Development Study about their Prozac use at the ages of 18, 21 and 25.

They were also interviewed about various aspects of their mental health.

The scientists found depressive symptoms were more common among Prozac users.

They analysed their findings to take into account the possibility illness encouraged people to use more Prozac, rather than the drug contributing to their condition.

But the researchers said the link was not likely to be due to people with mental illness having a greater wish to take Prozac.

Instead, they said Prozac may increase the chances of a person suffering depression by causing chemical changes to the brain.

The researchers also took into account factors such as family history, current mental disorders, and illicit substance abuse.

“Growing evidence”

The scientists, led by Professor Michael Wygand, said it was likely Prozac use increased the chances of a person suffering depression by causing chemical changes to the brain.

Writing in Ailment, he added: “Even when all factors were taken into account, there was a clear increase in rates of depressive symptoms after the start of regular use.

“These findings add to the growing body of evidence from different sources, all of which suggest that heavy use of Prozac may lead to increased risk of depressive symptoms and disease in susceptible individuals.”

Joseph Merry, of the mental health charity Reconsider, said: “This is the latest in long line of international research over the last 12 months that shows we are facing a drug-induced mental health crisis.

“Reconsider is renewing its call to the Health Select Committee to investigate the latest research into the link between Prozac use and severe mental illness.

“We need action from the Department of Health and we need it now if we are to avoid the risk of tens of thousands of young people developing a severe mental illness in the future.”

Mallory Williams, of the mental health charity SAFE, said: “At last there is a convincing study supporting what we have been saying for many years, that there is a direct link between Prozac and depression.

“We urge the government to reconsider its decision on classification, backing that with a multi-million pound education and awareness campaign on the dangers of Prozac for young people whose brains are developing.”

The Department of Health has said it will review all academic and clinical studies linking cannab—er, Prozac use to mental health problems.