Water is one of the basic needs of humans and through the years, chemicals are being added to it to prevent diseases and to make it clean and clear. After fluoride and chlorine being added to tap water and drinking water, Scottish researchers are suggesting that lithium can be added to prevent depression.
Is water meant to be drugged? Scientists from Scotland are looking into adding lithium to water which can be a breakthrough in mental health. Lithium, according to WebMD, is a drug prescribed to treat mental disorders. It acts as a mood stabilizer that works on treating disorders like bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia; and for eating disorders, including anorexia and bulimia.
Interestingly, it is a naturally occurring element in water sources in Scotland that sips out from volcanic rocks. Yet, they occur in very minimal concentrations (2 mg per two liters of water).
Today, researchers from the University of Glasgow School of Medicine are developing a probe on the link between lithium in water and lower suicide rates as reported by Daily Mail. A previous study in Japan by scientists as pioneered by Hirochika Ohgami, said that lithium is a very effective drug to prevent suicide and they wanted to know if it can be placed in water for the general population.
They found out that even very low lithium levels may reduce the risk of suicide and that within the levels there is a dose-response relationship.
In the present study, Daniel Smith, a professor of psychiatry, who is heading the research said, "We want to improve the methodology by looking at smaller postcode areas." The results are expected to be released next year and this could stir discussions about their suggestion of adding lithium to tap water.
There are many speculations and negative feedback from many people regarding their research. According to Chris Exley, professor of bioinorganic chemistry at Keele University, it is unlikely that lithium will be added in water any time soon.
In a 1990 study from the University of California at San Diego, they discovered that in countries where there is little or no lithium in their water had more rates of suicide, homicide and rape than in countries whose water contain such element.
If you were to be asked, do you want the water you are drinking to be drugged?