26 May 2015

Professor Payte
Herrera, Gabriel
Subject: To address the issue with increased depression due to societal reasons towards
todays young adults; touch upon prescription drug abuse and how it has exacerbated the
issue.
You can do and be whatever you want as long as you put in the effort, the time, go
through the pain, and sacrifice what has to be sacrificed to accomplish youre dreams.
You cant just say that you want something, you have to want it bad and it has become
increasingly truer with todays hustle and bustle society. But to what degree has this
inspiration method of living brought us? It has made us smarter, stronger, more
competitive and capable, a panicle of societal excellence to achieve beyond greatness;
while, everyday breaking the boundaries of what can and cannot be accomplished. But
what has it cost us, we are all dreamers reaching and searching for the everlasting light of
greatness but how can you or I compete with not only the millions upon billions of people
looking to do the same, but do it for an environmental climate that demands more then
ever before and possibly humanly capable? This is the most miserable in my life.
Claudia Rankine page seventeen Dont Let Me Be Lonely spoken by a friend the author
explains who developed Alzheimers, pumped full of pills and left forget in the book like
most of us today in our society, how fitting. And to speak not only for me but also for
many of my colleges, this truly is the most miserable in my life.
As I type this there is one thing that runs through my mind and also on a daily
basis, and that is that Im tired. Im so, so tired yet my life has barely begun, I graduated

High school a little less then a year ago yet I act like a overworked thirty year old. In a
article published by USA Today February 7, 2013 by Sharon Jayson she touches upon the
issue with a survey conducted by the news journal of an increased stress level of todays
youth, "Younger people do tend to be more stressed than older people. It may be they are
more willing to admit to it. It may be a phase of life. They just don't know where they're
going in life. Now while that doesnt really address my theory, not knowing where were
going in life is a fear not only I but also many people in my age group go through. Im
finding myself, I dont know what I want to do, Im not really good at anything but Im
going to go with the flow and see what happens. That coming from a recent
conversation I had with a close friend reminds me of the uncertainty that seems to run
ramped with todays youth.

Touching back on the same article by USA today, Jayson

touches upon the increases pressure millennials face, we were taught to be able achieve
what we set our minds too but when we fail it is difficult for us to process and handle.
"Millennials are growing up at a tough time. They were sheltered in many ways, with a
lot of high expectations for what they should achieve. Individual failure is difficult to
accept Now many will begin to ask, if todays society is grater and more advanced
then any other, why are we complaining? Why do todays youth seem to be more
depressed then others, they have it easy? Its so much simpler for us I agree, I am blessed
to be apart of a society where I dont need to go out to eat anymore, I can have it
delivered to my house but its not just about the simplicity and how easy we have it. Its
hard, and knowing that when we fail we dont get a second chance, that no one gets a
second chance in life, that theres already someone to replace us whos better or smarter
were makes us realize that are not as special as we once thought we where. Our failures

destroy us, but we will try everything to achieve our goals but while were doing so we
lose something very important.
In an article titled Depression in Teens by MentalhealthAmerica.net it tackles
the issue many young adults and teenagers face on daily basis with societal problems,
stress from school, work, home, that leads to an overwhelming sensation of being isolated
or rejected and disappointment. Adolescent depression is increasing at an alarming rate.
Recent surveys indicate that as many as one in five teens suffers from clinical
depression. Now while this is an alarming statistic, why is todays youth becoming more
depressed? One Theory suggests that it may be due to genetic reasons not just changes in
our society. Major Depression and Genetics geneticsdepression.stanford.edu by
Douglas F. Levinson, M.D. Walter E. Nichols, M.D., Professor in the School of Medicine
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences performed a recent experiment where
they took sets of identical twins and non identical twins with parents who suffer from the
disease and examined there genetic code or mark and looked for identical mutations that
could be passed down from their parents. To clarify what a genetic mark stands for, it is a
mutation that develops during utero where one of the genetic codes passed down from the
mother and father is mutated which leaves an imprint. Now these imprints can be traced
back generation to generation, this is how scientist are able to identify if an individual is
more subject to certain hereditary dieses like breast cancer or develop physical
characteristics like colored eyes. Now if the father and or mother has a mark in this case a
genetic history of depression their offspring, in this case the twins could develop theses
traits or marks. The identical twins who share 100% of the same genotype where found to
have this mark, while the non identical twins who share only 40-50% of the same

genotype only one was found to have this mark. Now will these sets of twins develop
depression, it is unknown because even though there is a mark in the genetic code that
technically suggest they can develop these traits it is still unsure and being researched.
But, the twins with the mark have a higher percentage of about two to three times of
developing depression then the one without.

Now is it due to the fact that really

my generation is depressed because of a passed down genetic trait that wasnt, or couldnt
be identified before, the reason why we feel so sad? We dont know yet, but we certainty
arent dealing with it right. DrugFacts: Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications
published by Drugabuse.gov talks about the over abundance of not only prescription
drugs, but also how we are abusing it to deal with our problems and handle day to day
situations. In fact, prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are, after marijuana
(and alcohol), the most commonly abused substances by Americans 14 and older. Now
why is that? Its simple, we dont and are overwhelmed by the vast amount of stress and
bullsh*t that our society throws at us and expects to handle. Its an escape, I dont want to
think about ten essays due by the end of a week and ten more next week, I want to enjoy
myself, live life, but I cant do that without falling behind. So to stay focused ill take a pill
for that, if I want to have fun after but the first the first pill is to focus ill take another pill
for that, and if I want to unwind at the end of the day ill just light a quickie. Examples of
course, but this reliance is what is plaguing my generation, now how are we going to fix
that I dont know, Im to tired so let me take a pill for that so I can think of one.

Like I

said before we are way to reliant with prescription medication, its an easy solution but it
doesnt improve or get rid of the problem, if anything it makes it worse. Now we have
stressed, drug addicted teens and young adults roaming around chasing a dream that

probably wont happen. When we realize it we just take another pill to forget about it, deal
with the anxiety of our daily lives, then need more next time to feel better and deal with
the same problem or another a little better. To say that todays societal pressure hasnt
plaid a part of it is to say that grass is purple; however, one thing is for certain, increased
stress leads to depression. The double demons of Depression and Addiction
dualdiagnosis.org by Dennis C. Daley, Ph.D Professor of Psychiatry and Social Work
address the issue my generation is facing with abuse and depression. National Institute
on Health reported that almost one-third of individuals with depression had a co-existing
substance use disorder at some point in their livesclients with addiction and depression
are at higher risk for suicidal and homicidal behaviors. Now while I exaggerate greatly,
is the death of a generation something we want to turn a blind eye too?

This is truly

the most miserable in my life. Dont Let Me Be Lonely page seventeen Claudia Rankine
being apart of this and seeing those around me affected by this is truly beyond words. I
can not say for sure if it will improve, as a matter of fact it may become worse but one
thing I hope my generation and any other who has to deal with same issues remembers,
failure doesnt define who we are, that while some dreams may be unattainable its the
journey and what we discover within ourselves along the way that molds who will
become. If genetics really has something to do with the problem we have to find a
solution rather then a simple alternative. While society continues to demand more from
us, we have to stop, put our lives in neutral, and realize if what were doing is really what
we want to do. And most importantly to seek help for an addiction or depression, to not
become another statistic.

http://www.dualdiagnosis.org/resource/depression/
The article, The Double Demons of Depression and Addiction.
By Dennis C. Daley, Ph.D psychiatry and Social Work
Provides links to certain treatments, self-help, and assessment etc.

http://depressiongenetics.stanford.edu/mddandgenes.html
Douglas F. Levinson, M.D. Walter E. Nichols, M.D., Professor in the
School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/depression-teens
talks specifically with depression with teens and makes connections with
drug use.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/06/stresspsychology-millennials-depression/1878295/
Sharon Jayson, USA TODAY 7:14 a.m. EST February 7, 2013

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-overcounter-medications
Updated December 2014
Government website, no specific author

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/depression-teens
Talks specifically with depression with teens and makes connections with
drug use.
American Association of Suicidology
4201 Connecticut Avenue NW; Suite 310
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: 202-237-2280
3615 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016-3007
Phone Number: (202) 966-7300
Email Address: clinical@aacap.org
Website URL: www.aacap.org

http://depressiongenetics.stanford.edu/mddandgenes.html
Douglas F. Levinson, M.D. Walter E. Nichols, M.D., Professor in the
School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences