Psychiatrists are a drain on taxpayers

Edward Loughlin, Las Vegas

Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013 | 2:03 a.m.

State taxpayer money is being wasted at the mental hospitals. Nobody is complaining because of a lack of awareness of what’s going on, but this is changing.

Two important magazines have recently carried articles critical of psychiatry and its useless drugs. Most of the patients are diagnosed depressed or psychotic, so the useless but expensive psychiatrists prescribe useless but expensive anti-depressants and anti-psychotic drugs that are no more effective than placebos and have severe, harmful side effects.

A solution is becoming obvious: Get rid of the psychiatrists and replace them with licensed psychiatric social workers and psychologists with no financial ties with big pharmaceuticals, which would save lots of money and greatly improve care. As the solution becomes more obvious, the pressure will grow on the governor and other officials to act. The people of Nevada will be watching and expecting change.