8 years of schooling is relative. Many doctors don't know squat about prescribing medications, and many nurses do. I think that most people of average intelligence (most of the posters here seem a little above average) with an interest and research tools can learn a lot about specific medications. Witness the post on this forum. The collective knowledge base here outperforms almost any doctor.

And yes, I AM preparing for the apocalypse. Flame on.