Description
Book Synopsis: Anxious Americans have increasingly pursued peace of mind through pills and prescriptions. In 2006, the National Institute of Mental Health estimated that 40 million adult Americans suffer from an anxiety disorder in any given year: more than double the number thought to have such a disorder in 2001. Anti-anxiety drugs are a billion-dollar business. Yet as recently as 1955, when the first tranquilizer -- Miltown -- went on the market, pharmaceutical executives worried that there wouldn't be interest in anxiety-relief. At mid-century, talk therapy remained the treatment of choice. But Miltown became a sensation -- the first psychotropic blockbuster in United States history. By 1957, Americans had filled 36 million prescriptions. Patients seeking made-to-order tranquility emptied drugstores, forcing pharmacists to post signs reading "more Miltown tomorrow." The drug's financial success and cultural impact revolutionized perceptions of anxiety and its treatment, inspiring the development of other lifestyle drugs including Valium and Prozac. In The Age of Anxiety, Andrea Tone draws on a broad array of original sources -- manufacturers' files, FDA reports, letters, government investigations, and interviews with inventors, physicians, patients, and activists -- to provide the first comprehensive account of the rise of America's tranquilizer culture. She transports readers from the bomb shelters of the Cold War to the scientific optimism of the Baby Boomers, to the "just say no" Puritanism of the late 1970s and 1980s. A vibrant history of America's long and turbulent affair with tranquilizers, The Age of Anxiety casts new light on what it has meant to seek synthetic solutions to everyday angst.
Details
The Age of Anxiety: A History of America's Turbulent Affair with Tranquilizers
Are you tired of constantly feeling anxious and stressed? Do you yearn for peace of mind and tranquility? Look no further! Introducing The Age of Anxiety: A History of America's Turbulent Affair with Tranquilizers, a captivating book that explores the fascinating journey of how anxious Americans have sought solace through pills and prescriptions.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 40 million adults in America suffer from an anxiety disorder each year. It's a staggering number that continues to grow. That's why this book is more relevant than ever. The Age of Anxiety takes you back to a time when talk therapy was the primary treatment for anxiety, and the idea of anxiety-relief through medication seemed far-fetched.
However, everything changed with the introduction of Miltown, the first tranquilizer, in 1955. This breakthrough medication became an instant sensation, revolutionizing the perception of anxiety and its treatment. By 1957, Americans had filled a staggering 36 million prescriptions for Miltown. Can you imagine the impact it had on society?
In The Age of Anxiety, Andrea Tone delves deep into the history of these tranquilizers, uncovering the untold stories and shedding light on the cultural and financial impact they had. Using a wide range of original sources, Tone paints a vivid picture of the shift from talk therapy to pharmaceutical solutions to everyday angst.
If you're curious to learn about the birth of popular anxiety-reducing drugs like Valium and Prozac, this book is a must-read. It takes you on a captivating journey from the bomb shelters of the Cold War to the scientific optimism of the Baby Boomers, all the way to the "just say no" Puritanism of the late 1970s and 1980s.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of America's tranquilizer culture. Say goodbye to restless nights and constant worry. Embrace the power of knowledge and discover how synthetic solutions to everyday angst have shaped our society. Experience the compelling stories firsthand by grabbing your copy of The Age of Anxiety now!
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