Wellbutrin is one of 10 antidepressants cited in an FDA advisory last year for prompting signs of suicidal behavior. Despite all the evidence that antidepressants provide no meaningful benefit, many doctors reflexively turn to them anyway, even just to help people quit smoking. No wonder some patients get hooked on it, just as they get hooked on Ecstasy ...

Fact is, there's absolutely no need to rely on an antidepressant to quit smoking. Aside from complete abstinence -- a tough thing for most folks -- the best and most effective way to work with addictions and your out-of-control emotions is to learn how to use a tool like the Emotional Freedom Technique. Other safer options that have nothing to do with a drug:

• Start an exercise program today
• Take a high-quality fish or krill oil daily

Here are some comments and personal experiences from Vital Vote readers:

"I think it's an interesting question why anybody is prescribed antidepressants full stop. The research is unambiguous. Antidepressants have no meaningful benefit. The world's largest study into depression shows that the RIGHT kind of psychotherapy IS the most effective treatment for depression, even the most severe.

"That's not even taking into account the vast amount of evidence accumulating about the effect of diet and nutrition on mood disorders!! The appropriate question is who benefits from the use of antidepressants. It's certainly not the patient. The manufacturers do rather well though!" -- Duncan, Bournemouth UK

"I have a friend who was relatively healthy ... He had an injury, which in turn caused him to be isolated and hence he became depressed ... My friend was put on psych-drugs, and I watched him experience psychosis (an almost crazy state) twice ...

"He was trying to get off the drugs, and did so slowly, but because he had taken them for 4 years, without being reviewed, his body now "needed" these drugs to function normally ... Since taking the drugs, he has put on heaps of weight, and is always very fidgety. I'm sure he wasn't told that these were potential side effects when he took the drugs  ...

"At university, I was taught that when doctors use psych-drugs it is literally 'HIT and MISS' for many conditions ... I have a problem with 'hit and miss' expression. How many people actually know that the drugs they use are to a degree, experimental? We as consumers are made to believe that doctors actually know what they're doing in relation to psych-drugs, but this is not the case ...

"I have not used EFT, but I strongly support anything healthy that does NOT include toxic chemical-based drugs ... and in support of other types of mind healing, my friend had some spiritual counseling, prior to going into hospital and being diagnosed with psychosis, which is the ONLY THING that helped him." -- Andrew, Victoria Australia

You can view and vote on these and other comments at Vital Votes, and vote on them or add your thoughts by first registering at Vital Votes.