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users of these substances.“ The avalanche of drug and chemical usage by these industries occurred with the shift in production methods from free-range farming to factory and feedlot farming in the last 20 to 30 years.'* Over 15 years ago, there were more than 1,000 drug products and as many chemicals in use by the livestock and poultry produc- ers in the United States.* Also, more than 40 per cent of the antibiotics and other antibacterials produced every year in the US were used as animal feed additives and for other animal purposes. Almost 100 per cent of poultry, 90 per cent of pigs and veal calves, and 60 per cent of cattle have regular amounts of antibacte- tials added to their feed.” Seventy-five per cent of hogs have their feed supplemented with sulphur drugs” and almost 70 per cent of US beef is from cattle fed on hormones to promote growth.” The amount of drugs and chemical substances used on farm ani- mals in the industrialised nations is enormous. ta as Sweden and far more than the US and Britain".’ The situa- users of these substances.“ The avalanche of drug and chemical tion in the United States and Britain sixteen years ago was bad usage by these industries occurred with the shift in production enough for Illich to write: methods from free-range farming to factory and feedlot farming in “In the United States, the volume of the drug business the last 20 to 30 years.” has grown by a factor of 100 during the current century:* Over 15 years ago, there were more than 1,000 drug products 20,000 tons of aspirin are consumed per year, almost 225 and as many chemicals in use by the livestock and poultry produc- tablets per person.” In England, every tenth night of sleep ers in the United States.* Also, more than 40 per cent of the is induced by a hypnotic drug and 19 per cent of women antibiotics and other antibacterials produced every year in the US and 9 per cent of men take a prescribed tranquilizer dur- were used as animal feed additives and for other animal purposes. ing any one year. In the United States, central-nervous- Almost 100 per cent of poultry, 90 per cent of pigs and veal system agents are the fastest-growing sector of the pharma- calves, and 60 per cent of cattle have regular amounts of antibacte- ceutical market, now making up 31 cent of total sales.© rials added to their feed.” Seventy-five per cent of hogs have their Dependence on prescribed tranquillizers has risen by 290 feed supplemented with sulphur drugs” and almost 70 per cent of per cent since 1962, a period during which the per capita US beef is from cattle fed on hormones to promote growth.” consumption of liquor rose by only 23 per cent and the The amount of drugs and chemical substances used on farm ani- estimated consumption of illegal opiates by about 50 per mals in the industrialised nations is enormous. cent.‘ At the time of Illich writing this (1976), it is estimated that 50 to The Consequences 80 per cent of adults in the United States and the United Kingdom As could be expected, one result of the vast over-consumption were consuming a medically prescribed chemical every 24 to 36 * : ; hours.’ In his book Confessions of a Medical Heretic (1980), poles, dyer me et a ae A hen yee beat ae Mec a — centage of sales and company net atrician, obert Mendelsohn, worth) have surpassed all other accused doctors of having manufacturing industries listed on "seeded the entire population the Stock Exchange.” with these powerful drugs". 4 —_ Mendelsohn further states that Another result is the inevitable "Every year, from 8 to 10 mil- © 4 160 million prescriptions are deterioration of pie health. - ° According to the Food and Drug lion Americans go to the doctor eae ‘ 5 a Pe r ee when they have a cod. About being dispensed from Australian Acnnsvaten CO te nity five percent of them BE : Teethers come away with a preseription- pharmacies every year, ANd AM rugs and some 40 por cent of all half of which are for antibi- vale * ‘ : HI , hospitalised people are further a eS estimated further 20 million from damaged by their treatments. \ * . . Every year, an estimated 140,000 eee strategy — hospital pharmacies. pre A aw are killed because of intec 0 i drug-taking” and one in seven hos- prescriptions are being dis- pital beds is taken up by patients pensed from Australian pharma- suffering from adverse drug reac- cies every year, and an estimat- tions.” 7 ed further 20 million from hos- A report by the General | = oe ae Lape = ll deme 1940. dmine which sme Accounting Office in the United States revealed that 51.5 per cent 0 719 prescri 2 Guae-clepansed" 8 of all drugs introduced between 1976 and 1985 had to be rela- r 5 ye ea . belled because of serious adverse reactions found after the market- As reported in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1976), ing of these drugs. These included heart, liver and kidney failure, a study in a large country town in Australia has revealed that peo- foetal toxicity and birth defects, severe blood disorders, respiratory ple who reported no illness took as many drugs as those who — 5 cage reported a chronic and acute illness. The authors noted that "the es evue uae! tess tet ye rate of — in drug usage at around 25 per cent per year can only be explained by increased drug usage of both iption and . OTC [ cae do-cnelind dng ly te: senedty of the population"? How Common Are Drug Adverse Reactions? At the time of the report Australians were consuming half the According to the Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee number of prescription drugs compared to today.” (ADRAC), the official federal government body responsible for monitoring the safety of drugs already in use: "There is a dearth consumed by Australians are difficult to obtain. Industry sources {scarcity} of published information on the medical and economic are reluctant to divulge this information. However, a study by the importance of adverse drug reactions in Australia."* However, a Health Commission of NSW in 1979 that stated that “at present Tecent study (1991), cited by the National Health Strategy report Australia has one of the leading rates of per capita consumption of 7 drug use, claims that in 1987-88 there were between 30,000 and Igesics in the world", ted 1973 fi for sales of OTC 40,000 hospital admissions in Australia because of drug-taking a eaakas $166 million” = and also that adverse drug reactions (ADRs) would have been a It is estimated that in 1991 $1.4 billion was spent on OTC med- major factor for between 700 to 900 deaths a year.” ications" whi hen added to the $2 billi t ‘nn There are some who are highly critical of the official estimation ine” a Finale $3.4 Led sinless dic alin of the extent of drug reactions within communities. Dr Julian Gold, head of the National Health Surveillance Unit of the Recent figures of how many OTC or non-prescription drugs How Common Are Drug Adverse Reactions? According to the Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee (ADRAC), the official federal government body responsible for monitoring the safety of drugs already in use: "There is a dearth {scarcity] of published information on the medical and economic importance of adverse drug reactions in Australia."* However, a recent study (1991), cited by the National Health Strategy report on drug use, claims that in 1987-88 there were between 30,000 and 40,000 hospital admissions in Australia because of drug-taking and also that adverse drug reactions (ADRs) would have been a major factor for between 700 to 900 deaths a year.” There are some who are highly critical of the official estimation of the extent of drug reactions within communities. Dr Julian Gold, head of the National Health Surveillance Unit of the Commonwealth Institute of Health, whose job as a medical epi- demiologist is to collate information on the total health environ- ment, estimates that up to 40 per cent of all patients in Australia may actually be victims of doctor-induced (iatrogenic) illnesses.* A 40 per cent figure has also been estimated for the United Kingdom.” Generally, of this amount half are from drug reac- tions.* Drugs In The Food We Eat Apart from the vast number of drugs taken directly, people are also unknowingly consuming large amounts of drugs and other chemical substances indirectly from the food they eat. Most food industries rely on chemical substances from soil to supermarket and the animal products industries are by far the most excessive NEXUS¢25 Vol 2, No 13 - 1993