Psychiatric drugs the issue

Sir,– As the search for answers begins following the indiscriminate shooting in Las Vegas, the cause of senseless violence once again goes firmly under the spotlight.

It has been said many times before; there is never one simple explanation for what drives a human being to commit such an unspeakable act, but a common denominator has surfaced in hundreds of cases – prescribed psychiatric drugs, documented to cause mania, psychosis, violence, suicide and, in some cases, homicidal ideation.

For decades, the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) has been collecting information on numerous similar acts of senseless violence, acts where the psychiatric connections have eventually surfaced.

A recent example concerned the gunman involved in the Fort Lauderdale tragedy in January.

It was revealed he was being “treated” for mental health issues.

Then there was James Holmes, who murdered 12 people in a Colorado cinema.

It was revealed he, too, had been “treated” for mental health issues and had been prescribed an antidepressant drug.

It also surfaced Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, who flew Flight 9525 into the Alps, killing all the passengers and crew, had been under psychiatric care and was being treated by several psychiatrists.

While gun laws in the United States are put to the top of the list as a means of curtailing such tragedies, the role of psychiatric treatment, especially psychiatric drugs, should also be investigated and closely scrutinised.

The safety of psychiatric drugs has been questioned for years now and, with so many violent deaths and suicides linked to their use, public safety continues to be compromised.

Worldwide concerns have been reflected in

the release of 27 international drug regulatory warnings on psychiatric drugs citing effects of mania, hostility, violence and even homicidal ideation.

It is vital to continue repeating this message about the dangers of psychiatric treatments until it gets through to those who can make the necessary changes so that public safety is no longer compromised.

Brian Daniels. East Grinstead, West Sussex.