The main reason I am pursuing my Masters in Social Work is to work in the behavioral health field. However, through the training I have received thus far, combined with the personal research I have done, I am becoming increasingly aware of the personal and professional ethical dilemma surrounding the field of behavioral health and psychotropic medications. The field of social work is undoubtedly intertwined with the psychiatric field; social workers provide “the majority of mental health services in the United States” (Moses, p. 211), and 40% of NASW (National Association of Social Workers) members practice mental health settings (Cohen). As social workers, we serve as a liaison between patients, families, prescribers, interdisciplinary teams and schools, regarding psychiatric referrals, assessments, treatment and follow-up. Furthermore, many social workers have caved in and subscribed to the medical model of the psychiatric field, supporting, encouraging, and facilitating the prescribing of psychotropic medications for the mentally ill population (Moses). Social workers working in behavioral health are expected, to some extent, to follow the “expertise” of the prescriber, who is generally the team leader within interdisciplinary teams. Because social workers do not have medical degrees, we are taught not to question prescribing psychotropic medications. However, many of these drugs have terrible side effects, can impact the patient's physical health, and can impair the patient's cognitive functioning and problem-solving abilities (Cohen). Furthermore, mental illness is becoming an epidemic in our society; diagnostic inflation, psychopharmacological revolution,...... half of the paper...... no evidence of prior illness (Mitchell, 2009). For example, an individual may want to have a few drinks to relax after a long day; this choice does not and should not demonstrate that this individual suffered from anxiety or another mental illness before drinking. Prescribers are aware of the side effects of psychotropic medications, yet many will use the doctrine of double effect to justify prescribing psychotropic medications for the purpose of alleviating the symptoms of mental illness. However, as the true effectiveness rates of psychotropic drugs are studied and revealed, how can prescribers ethically continue to prescribe? ethical dilemma – do no harm – but “experts” feel they are acting in the best interests of the client. The dilemma lies in prescriber education and true informed consent for the client.