Have a look at this : http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/shortcuts/2011/dec/05/should-we-put-lithium-in-water
It sounds like science fiction: a consultant psychiatrist in Ireland proposed last week that mass medication could be used to make us all happier
This is lovely, hasn’t anyone watched Serenity...
Didn’t that attempt really help.
Aside from the sci-fi what about the science...
but I sincerely doubt that this is what they are planning, however lithium is considered an important trace mineral and the body does need it for healthy normal functioning. However,
In humans defined lithium deficiency diseases have not been characterized, but low lithium intakes from water supplies were associated with increased rates of suicides, homicides and the arrest rates for drug use and other crimes. Lithium appears to play an especially important role during the early fetal development as evidenced by the high lithium contents of the embryo during the early gestational period
This study was looking at very small 70-170 micrograms/L a much lower concentration than for prescribed medications
In 1990, a study in 27 counties in Texas found lower rates of not only suicide but also homicide and rape in those where the drinking water contained lithium
Dietary (including uptake from water) levels of lithium are very low an. That it alters mood is well documented but how supplementing everyones’ diet artificially with it will affect them is unknown. A very small change in lithium level can cause problems and I think it highly unlikely that this suggestion would ever be taken seriously there are far too many things that could cause problems.
What really gets me is that it is thought that drugs are the answer; well dietary supplementation this may be, but still there are so many ways that improved mood can be achieved without this why is it that he felt it necessary to suggest this unproven and risky one.
It’s seriously ludicrous to suggest putting a mood altering substance in the water. Why are they not looking at more down to earth solutions to this depression?
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