While most people are celebrating the fact that Thanksgiving is just around the corner, those suffering from Parkinson’s disease might want to stop short. Since President Trump’s election, many have feared that his administration will do more harm than good for people living with the degenerative brain disease.
After all, Trump campaigned on a pro-Armed Forces platform and has surrounded himself with generals who want to escalate the War on Terror in the Middle East. This might mean more troops, more bombings, and more death for people with Parkinson’s, who are disproportionately likely to be diagnosed with PTSD and suffer anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Although it’s too early to tell, it’s clear that Trump hasn’t abandoned the anti-PD rhetoric that helped him get elected in the first place. Just this week, for example, he praised a military veteran for killing a reporter in Oregon. The president called the murder a “great act,” and lauded the individual for “taking care of business.”
A Possible Explanation
There’s a good chance that Trump’s controversial comments were nothing more than a ploy to rile up his base and distract the media from his failed presidency. Nonetheless, that doesn’t change the fact that rhetoric like this emboldens those who want to do harm and encourages fear. It also doesn’t help that the pharmaceutical industry, which stands to profit from any newly created panic about disease, is sponsoring events like the American Psychiatric Association’s annual meeting in May.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, it might be reassuring to know that there are potentially negative consequences to being on the receiving end of such rhetoric. Even if Trump never actually tries to implement any policies that directly harm those with Parkinson’s disease, his words have the power to scare and upset people already dealing with serious mental health conditions. This, in turn, could make it more difficult for them to access the healthcare they need.
The truth is, there isn’t any evidence that links Trump’s rhetoric to an increase in violent crime. But there is something known as the “Viagra effect” that points to a possible connection between the two. (To learn more, read:
Is The Anti-PD Stereotype Getting In the Way Of Those Who Have It?
Viagra is a drug that eases the symptoms of erectile dysfunction, particularly in men. More than half a million men in America take the drug every day, and the numbers are rising. It’s been around for more than 25 years and is generally considered safe for use, especially when taken as prescribed. Still, some doctors and patients are concerned about its association with dementia and other mental illnesses.
In 2016, the FDA declared a “public health warning” on Viagra, noting that it “has been shown to be associated with other health problems, including dementia and cognitive dysfunction.” While the agency didn’t explicitly link the drug to these problems, it did advise patients and physicians about the risks of using it. Since then, there have been a number of case reports and studies that indicate a possible link between Viagra and dementia. One such study published in November 2017 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine found that men who took Viagra were more than twice as likely to develop dementia as men who didn’t take the drug.
It’s not clear what proportion of cases of dementia are associated with Viagra. Still, the FDA’s warning puts a dampener on one of the safest and most used drugs in the world. In the meantime, those who take Viagra every day might want to consider avoiding places with a lot of people, especially those where they might feel out of place. They might also want to watch what they eat, since sugar and caffeine, the two biggest contributors to dementia, are both in abundance in most junk foods. And last but not least, they should contact their physician if they experience any changes in their mental status while on this medication. Changes like these could be a sign of toxicity or an indication that the dose needs to be adjusted.
What About The War On Drugs?
Another issue that’s been gaining a lot of attention is the so-called War on Drugs. Launched in the 1980s by President Ronald Reagan, this war sought to reduce drug abuse and promote treatment rather than incarceration. While most people agree that this was a good idea, it seems to have had the opposite effect. Between 2008 and 2017, the rate of drug-related deaths increased by 25 percent, to an all-time high of 63 deaths per 100,000 Americans.
This rise in drug-related deaths is most likely the result of two factors: highly restrictive drug prosecution policies and lack of substance abuse treatment. On the law enforcement side, only 3 percent of federal inmates are currently serving time for a drug-related offense, down from 11 percent in the early 1980s. It seems that when it comes to prosecuting drug crimes, things have largely returned to the status quo ante.
On the other hand, the number of people seeking treatment for substance abuse has remained stubbornly low, hovering around 17 million Americans, or about 7 percent of the population. The vast majority of these individuals, namely 95 percent, received no treatment at all. Even among those who did receive treatment, less than half were very happy with the services provided, despite the fact that treatment for opiate and stimulant abuse is considered the standard of care. As a result, deaths from drug overdoses are expected to reach a record high.
The Bottom Line
Whether you agree with Trump’s policies or not, there’s no denying that he’s made some valuable social statements in support of those with Parkinson’s. Specifically, he’s spoken out against denying healthcare due to pre-existing conditions and the drug companies that he feels have “overcharged” for Viagra. Still, a number of questions remain unanswered. The most pressing of these is the matter of linking Trump’s rhetoric to an increase in violence. While it’s true that there are serious reasons to be wary of the newly elected president, we can’t help but feel that his detractors are playing a dangerous game by attacking his mental health.
Since a major part of Trump’s appeal to voters was due to his outsider status and ability to speak his mind, it would be a shame if this is how he loses his popularity. The reality is that while no one can predict how the next four years will unfold, one thing is for certain: Parkinson’s will be here to stay. And as long as there are those suffering from the disease, there will be those who want to fight it. After all, we’re all human, and at the end of the day, we want to feel happy and healthy.