The Japanese have been researching the effects of lithium in drinking water & unsurprisingly have found that when present it reduces suicide rates. Lithium is currently used to treat bipolar disorder so these results are unsurprising. This research beggars the question "is it ethical to add lithium to drinking water?".
For me, this is a slippery slope & I'm reminded of soma in Brave New World which "makes you high yet it's more akin to a hangoverless tranquilliser or an opiate" (from huxley.net). Now this is maybe taking things a bit far but once the positive benefits of one drug are recognised why not add another to the water supply?
We are familiar with dystopic ideas becoming a reality such as big brother is watching you & the prevalence of cctv in society especially within the UK. It wasn't so long ago that most people treated cctv with suspicion & now we just accept it as part of modern day life.
Ultimately, it depends on the extent that government wish to nanny us as has been seen with so many health promotions campaigns such as smoking & obesity so why not then deal with our fundamental happiness?
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