It seems counterintuitive that people with similar conditions may be receiving different treatments, however, in the case of medications for mental health such as Prozac, this is exactly what is occurring.  Prozac is a widely used mental health medication made available in 1987.  Since then it has been prescribed to numerous patients for a wide range of issues.  However studies show that there is a discrepancy in how people receive this medication,  White people and people with health insurance, receive these medications at a much higher rate than people of color and people without health insurance.  Numerous causes have been suggested for this phenomenon, ranging from cultural differences to racism.  Unfortunately, it is difficult to come to a definitive conclusion with the limited data available, and due to the sensitive nature of the information, collecting data is also difficult.  It is in all likelihood a mix of factors working together which cause the discrepancy.

It seems counterintuitive that a resource-rich country could end up worse off than a country without resources, yet as history has shown, that is often the case.  This phenomenon is known as the resource curse and it has afflicted many countries throughout history. Today it is most associated with oil-rich countries such as Iraq, Iran, and Venezuela.  The cause of the resource curse is a matter of debate amongst scholars.  People have theorized and developed many approaches to combating the resource curse, one of the most promising ideas is also a relatively simple one.  Invest oil money in the country’s citizens.  In the places where plans like these have been implemented, it has been fairly effective.

It seems counterintuitive that something supposedly healthy like vitamins could be dangerous, but that might just be the case.  Many people in the United States take some form of supplemental vitamins, however, research shows that most people who do, already fulfill their daily needs from the foods they normally eat, and are at no risk of developing a deficiency-related disorder.  Because most people already meet their daily needs without supplements, taking them can give someone an overload of vitamins, which can lead to a variety of health problems.  The vast majority of already healthy people do not require vitamin supplements and taking them can actually make your health worse.