Psicofarmaci e vita quotidiana

The text is the report of a qualitative research carried out in Umbria on the use of psychotropic drugs in non-pathological situations, which do not concern mental illnesses. Doctors, pharmacists and social workers have been interviewed. From the interviews, it emerges a steep increase of the use of these drugs, regardless of age, gender and social class. This consumption is generally aimed at coping with very common hardships, such as anxiety, depression, various daily difficulties, etc. Doctors tend to give psychotropic drugs rather easily, which can lead to addiction and/or to a ritual use. All of the above seems to confirm the hypothesis of a medicalization of daily life, a growing invasive presence of drugs in our lives. [Publisher's Text].