Anyone think drugs may have been a factor with the shooter?

[Honeycombe8]

Whether legal or illegal? I don't think he was insane, so what could explain his out of character behavior in such an awful, evil way? Then drugs came to mind. Certain drugs, or mixtures of drugs, can cause someone to flip out and do things out of character.

[Marrah_G]

1. I suppose we will find out

[NYC_SKP]

2. Sure, drugs and drugs in foods and drugs in his mommy when in the womb.

There's a lot of disease and illness brought about by drugs and chemicals in our lives, including background substances.

So, sure, yeah, could be!

[rustydog]

3. Do you know this person or are you making your judgements

based on the same news sources we have?

A psychotic break can cause unimaginable violence with absolutely no warning.
Drugs can cause the same thing, yes, but you can be sure blood tests have been or are being done on the shooter.

If the person is mentally unstable and unknown outside pressures and internal demons could push someone over the edge.

[Hoyt]

4. Right now, I'm focused on the problem that is clear - friggin guns.

If they find a sh*tload of prescribed psychotropic drugs and or illegal drugs in lab, guns are still a major problem.

[Skip Intro]

5. From what I've read the guy had serious mental health issues.

Drugs could have been a factor. I admit I thought of bath salts at one point.

But the discussion of this aspect, and others, will be shunned on DU. Doesn't fit the agenda of most here.

[Honeycombe8]

6. You are wise, Skipper.

Yes, from the news reports, he did have a history of "not fitting in." But I read he had no history of violence at all. He was a quiet, gentle young man. I saw a couple of his classmates on tv. He didn't have friends to pal around with, but he wasn't antisocial....he would speak to others and was polite. Was very smart.

That's what I meant about his acting in a way out of character for him. To go from totally nonviolent to shooting many children numerous times, point blank, is quite a change in character.

[Skip Intro]

7. Yes and drugs can do that in a profound way.

Hell, I become a different person when I drink tequila. Imagine someone so introverted, but obviously with a hatred and turmoil somewhere deep inside, doing some much harder drug for the first time. I mean, it certainly is a possible explanation, and deserves discussion. The truth might lurk in this particular aspect. It would be a shame if it is passed by for political reasons.

You seem more interested in the truth of the matter than the politics of it. I am as well.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Testing will be done, until then much is conjecture

CNN did a piece on the mother last night titled "An incomplete profile" About the only clearly true statement they made. We don't even know if the shooter had documented mental health issues.

[Care Acutely]

9. Psychopathy misdiagnosed as aspergers/autism perhaps plus Ritalin/Adderall

Last edited Fri Dec 21, 2012, 03:40 AM - Edit history (1)

That's my armchair hunch.

[Honeycombe8]

10. That's what I was wondering. Drs these days prescribe so many drugs....

and those drugs can do some weird things to a person's brain and behavior.

Reminds me of the last days of my paternal grandma. She was a feisty little cajun woman...a bit crude, but funny, laughed a lot, talked a lot. She turned into a quiet zombie. My dad investigated and saw the top of her dresser covered with bottles of pills. He asked her, "Are you taking all these pills, Mom?" She says, "The doctors told me to." He got a bag and knocked all the bottles with his arm off the dresser and into the bag, and went to ONE doctor and asked him what she absolutely needed to take, because he wasn't going to have her taking all those pills anymore. All she did was sit around and drool like a drug addict. Turns out she did just fine with far fewer pills, and became more lively again.

[Care Acutely]

15. I have no idea how long ago that was, but polypharmacy remains a problem with the elderly.

You did the right thing. It is something the regulating agencies and primary care providers are trying very hard to work on now.

[daleo]

11. Or ssri medications

http://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/media/ssri/Paxil_murder.htm

[Care Acutely]

14. SSRI's are not associated with this kind of premeditated, methodical behavior

and yeah, I don't really trust lawyers on the subject of medicine and/or behavioral medicine. Lawyers specialize in money, not medicine. They serve a very valuable function, but they are not medical authorities or experts.

[daleo]

16. Lawyers work for both sides of this issue

Logically, you ought to distrust corporate lawyers defending drug companies as much as you distrust plaintiff's lawyers suing drug companies. Perhaps you should distrust them more, as they tend to be very highly paid.

There have been many cases where multiple murders have taken place by people on SSRIs with similar behavioral patterns.

Here is an interesting book on the subject by a psychologist. He gives much evidence, both clinical and statistical, supporting the case against SSRIs, as far as suicide and homicide goes.

http://www.amazon.com/Medication-Madness-Psychiatrist-Mood-Altering-ebook/dp/B008S0JVPE

[StarryNite]

12. I've wondered this myself.

Night after night the commercials on TV for mind and mood altering drugs yammer on. At the end there is always a long list of possible side effects and among them are depression and suicide.

[B Calm]

13. I blame Ronald Reagan

for closing down all the State Mental Hospitals. . .