For some time it has been known that Utah has had a high rate of antidepressant drug usage. Now this theory has been confirmed in a national study showing how antipressant drugs are prescribed twice as often in Utah than any other state, including three times higher than New York and New Jersey. The study, which was released last summer and updated in January, was done by tabulating prescription orders. Its authenticity was confirmed by Dr. Curtis Canning, the president of the Utah Psychiartic Assn. Saying he had "some hunches" about why Utah ranked so high despite the fact that 70 percent of its residents are Mormon, Dr. Canning said, "In Mormondom, there is a social expectation--particularly among the females--to put on a mask, say 'Yes' to everything that comes at her and hide the misery and pain. I call it the 'Mother of Zion' syndrome. You are supposed to be perfect because Mrs. Smith across the street can do it and she has three more kids than you and her hair is always in place. I think the cultural issue is very real. There is the expectation that you should be happy, and if you're not happy, you're failing."
Because Mormonism "requires perfection and the public presentation of a happy face, whatever may be happening privately," many try to hide their struggles and are therefore in need of the mood-altering drugs. One 71-year-old Utah woman says she has no problem getting prescriptions for her drugs. "Look around, you can easily find people who take them," she said. "I think it's the cultural environment. Most men here would just as soon their wives take pills than bother to delve into the problems, and maybe find out they might have something to do with the problems." The woman's three grown children are also addicted. Another Utah woman said she quit the drugs after 15 years of use. "It's like Happy Valley here," she said, describing the Salt Lake Valley. "It's a scary place sometimes. People don't talk about their problems. Everything is always rosy. That's how we got ourselves into this mess--we're good at ignoring things."
Besides the high usage of antidepressants, Utah also leads the nation in the
use of narcotic painkillers such as codeine and morphine-based drugs. (LA Times,
2/20/02)
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