How common was pill abuse with housewives?

r/

I have “Mother’s Little Helper” stuck in my head and at some point i heard that the military used to prescribe uppers for the morning and downers for night time. Was this common practice or is the song specifically about a drug addict?

I love that song regardless…

Comments

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  2. Own-Animator-7526 Avatar

    Read I’m dancing as fast as I can Barbara Gordon 1979.

  3. Piratesmom Avatar

    Women wanted more rights and more meaningful lives. Men were not comfortable with that. So- pills. It was often presented as a joke.

  4. Vanarene Avatar

    Extremely common. As was “secret” drinking. Everyone knew of course. But is was hushed up.

  5. BKowalewski Avatar

    My mom in the 60s and 70s regularly took a form of amphetamines to keep herself thin

  6. marvi_martian Avatar

    It was considered as medication that the doctor prescribed, so it was not really considered as drug abuse like it is now. It helped with their”nerves” to keep them calm.

  7. Queenofhackenwack Avatar

    there was a doc that handed out what ever was “needed” diet pills, nerve pills, sleeping pills, energy pills……… just go see …..DOCTOR B……..

  8. Global_Fail_1943 Avatar

    In the 1960s very common. My mother was prescribed dexadrine uppers for her weight while pregnant with my sister who was born extremely underweight and slow to develop compared to the rest of the siblings. Sleeping pills handed out like candy as well as the uppers!

  9. misslo718 Avatar

    Pulls for the ladies. Martinis for the fellas. Men starting drinking at lunchtime