I learn from an important national newspaper the horrifying figures regarding the consumption of sedatives and tranquillizers among young Italians. Needless to say it is a shameful record: in fact, according to the data reported by Eurispes, in Italy the use (and abuse) of psychoactive substances reaches an average of 10% amongst young students aged between 15 and 16, against a European average of 6%.

I wonder about the causes of this gap between Italy and the rest of Europe. It is by now a fact confirmed by numerous scientific studies: every category of psychoactive prescription drug, regardless whether they are classified as Anxiolytics, antidepressants, SSRI’s or mood stabilizers, has reported various side effects that could potentially be extremely dangerous for the user. Yet, most of the time, people are unaware of the risks that could occur either due to ignoring the information leaflets or because of a widespread bad habit of Italian family doctors neglecting to inform their patients about the possible side effects.

It looks like that in our society problems or concerns are no longer tolerated: it’s “inappropriate” and “socially inconvenient” to express and disclose feelings, for better or for worse, regardless of their nature. All has to be “subdued” by a pill that will make all troubles magically disappear.
Young people especially, are the main target of various campaigns that endorse as role models the most sordid characters that crowd the Media with their absurd behaviour and improbable declarations: the recent statements of the singer Morgan, who openly admits to have used cocaine as “anti-depressant”, are a clear example. We have arrived to the point where promoting the use of drugs in the media is used as an instrument to increase the audience, activating that perverse gossip mechanism that utilises narcotic or anti-depressant hype! Let alone the politically correct distinctions between VIPs, politicians or conformists: the problem lies somewhere else and sure enough it won’t be solved with the exclusion of a singer from a competition…

The media should give more visibility and possibilities to all those associations and organizations that, often solely on the base of voluntary work, operate every day despite countless bureaucratic and monetary difficulties in order to provide the correct information that today’s youth, now more than ever, so desperately needs.

We must stop tolerating the witticisms of those television personalities who, arrogantly and without any right, adopt the role of “opinion formers”, and dare to pronounce on such delicate topics as drug and psychoactive pharmaceuticals abuse. I think that it should be every citizen’s duty and responsibility to denounce these behaviours that are increasingly leading to a rapid and progressive decline of our society.

*translation: Mattia Brundo*