I'm seeing a lot on the TL about #Survivor's policy on prescription meds. There are a lot of misconceptions and half truths about contestants being "forced" to stop taking necessary meds. Based on my experience, that's not the case. 1/
I took armodafanil on the island. It's the definition of a Survivor PED. It helps you stay awake. It improves focus and alertness. It doesn't suppress my appetite, but it does impact metabolism. 2/ medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/…
I've heard a lot of stories about people who went cold turkey off of serious meds while on the show. Some of these stories are linked to well-known medevacs. But, afaik, none of these people were "forced" to stop taking necessary meds. 3/
They stopped on their own volition. We can only speculate why. Maybe they were afraid their meds would disqualify them from being on the show. Maybe they struggled with the stigma. Maybe they couldn't get a script that would cover them for the 7 weeks on location. 4/
I had no issues getting my med cleared. Why? A theory. I'm a cis straight white professional guy. I suspect I was the beneficiary of my privilege here, as I so often am. Many of the people who are alleged to have gone cold turkey are women, POC, LGBTQ, and/or working class. 5/
My privilege saw to it that my medical issues were taken seriously by the production. My privilege let me take a PED on Survivor. You better believe I banked those pills for challenge days. How do you think I beat a cop on Houses of the Holy? 😂 6/
Survivor needs a clear, equitable policy on contestants' necessary medications. No one should be required to stop taking a necessary med to go on a reality show. No one should be disqualified from participating based on a necessary med. 7/
Most of all, no one should feel compelled to stop taking a necessary med out of fear that their medical status will disqualify them from being on the show. 8/
Futute castaways, advocate for yourself during the casting process. If the show turns you down because of a necessary med you take every day, that's an indication that this show isn't worth your time. You deserve much better than to feel any stigma. 💗/9
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