Maine legislators seek to boost immunizations

At least three proposals for the upcoming Maine legislative session aim to lower the number of parents opting out of immunizations.

More >> Maine legislators seek to boost immunizations

UK Pre-school Kids Are Given "Chemical Cosh" Drugs To Curb Hyperactivity

A survey by the Division of Educational and Child Psychologists at the British Psychological Society, a representative body for psychology in the UK, found that children as young as two years old were being given "chemical cosh" drugs, a term given for a strong sedative, to keep a control on hyperactivity. The survey involved 136 psychologists in 70 local authorities in the UK.

More >> UK Pre-school Kids Are Given "Chemical Cosh" Drugs To Curb Hyperactivity

and More >> Preschool kids in Britain given ADHD drugs

and More >> The children of two on drugs for hyperactivity: Psychologists warn health workers are going 'straight to medication' instead of offering therapy or support for parents

Drugging Children Is Big Business For The Psychiatric Industry

Twenty million children worldwide are labeled with "mental disorders" that are based solely on a checklist of behaviors. Practice labeled child abuse.

More >> Drugging Children Is Big Business For The Psychiatric Industry

Concern over pre-school ADHD drugs

More than a fifth of school psychologists in England know of children under the age of six who have been prescribed ADHD drugs to treat behavioural problems despite it being against health guidelines, a study has found.

More >> Concern over pre-school ADHD drugs

ADHD drugs increasingly prescribed to treat hyperactivity in pre-schoolers

An “alarming” number of pre-school children are being prescribed drugs to treat hyperactivity – contrary to medical guidelines that say they should not be used on children under six – because overstretched health workers go straight to medication rather than offering psychological interventions.

More >> ADHD drugs increasingly prescribed to treat hyperactivity in pre-schoolers

Drugging our kids: A bold step away from heavy medication

Drugging our kids: A bold step away from heavy medication

After a decade in California foster care, Yolanda had become so medicated with psychiatric drugs, she practically lost the ability to speak.

Rate of Prescribing Psychotropic Drugs to Kentucky Children Studied at UofL

Researchers with the Child and Adolescent Health Research Design and Support Unit at the University of Louisville have begun a study to examine one of Kentucky's most vexing children's health issues: the higher-than-average rate of psychotropic medication being prescribed to children in the Bluegrass State.

More >> Rate of Prescribing Psychotropic Drugs to Kentucky Children Studied at UofL

Drug Companies: Stop Drugging Our Kids For Acting Like Kids!

It’s a funny old world! We put people in prison for selling amphetamine and cocaine , but allow drug companies to ‘deal’ ritalin to our children… 4.5 million children in the USA. Ritalin, like amphetamine and cocaine, is a Schedule II drug and has similar neurochemical effects in that it enhances dopamine function. This hypocrisy – and the damage it is doing to our children – disgusts me.

More >> Drug Companies: Stop Drugging Our Kids For Acting Like Kids!

Global Increase in ADHD Diagnoses Due to Drug Company Marketing and Lobbying, Study Shows

Like many other so-called “behavioral” disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a completely fabricated condition that was invented for the sole purpose of turning normal behavioral variances into “diseases” that require costly drug interventions. This crafty pharmaceutical scam is now spreading around the world, according to a new study, with drug companies effectively lobbying foreign governments to loosen their marketing restrictions on mind-altering drug treatments in order to get more people hooked on legal drugs.

More >> Global Increase in ADHD Diagnoses Due to Drug Company Marketing and Lobbying, Study Shows

Prof. Conrad studies medicalization of ADHD

“I was the kind of kid who would get up and walk around, look at the goldfish, read the encyclopedias in the back of the room, talk to neighbors,” Peter Conrad, a professor of sociology, said in regard to his childhood. “Had ADHD been an option as a diagnosis in the ’50s, which it wasn’t, I would have been probably labeled and gotten a trial and medications.”

More >> Prof. Conrad studies medicalization of ADHD

Foster youth drugged

Doctors wooed by Big Pharma are over-prescribing medication to foster children

Foster youth drugged

Rate of prescribing psychotropic drugs to Kentucky kids studied

Researchers with the Child and Adolescent Health Research Design and Support Unit (CAHRDS Unit) at the University of Louisville have begun a study to examine one of Kentucky's most vexing children's health issues: the higher-than-average rate of psychotropic medication being prescribed to children in the Bluegrass State.

More >> Rate of prescribing psychotropic drugs to Kentucky kids studied

Regulation needed to curb overpricing of drugs for children, say advocates

Scrutiny of doctors who prescribe psychotropic drugs to California foster children intensified this week, with growing calls for regulators to consider whether financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies may be driving the excessive use of medication.

More >> Regulation needed to curb overpricing of drugs for children, say advocates

Watchdog calls for tighter regulation on foster care prescriber relationships with drug companies

Scrutiny of doctors who prescribe psychotropic drugs to California foster children intensified Monday, with growing calls for regulators to consider whether financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies may be driving the excessive use of medication.

More >> Watchdog calls for tighter regulation on foster care prescriber relationships with drug companies

Drugging our kids: RX alliance rewards doctors as drug companies get richer

Olivia Hernandez always trusted the doctors who scribbled out prescription after prescription for the heavy-duty psychiatric drugs that clouded her teenage years in foster care.

More >> Drugging our kids: RX alliance rewards doctors as drug companies get richer

Drugging our kids: RX alliance rewards doctors as drug companies get richer

Olivia Hernandez always trusted the doctors who scribbled out prescription after prescription for the heavy-duty psychiatric drugs that clouded her teenage years in foster care.

Drugging our kids: RX alliance rewards doctors as drug companies get richer

Medicare Now Covers Genetic Tests for Targeting Depression Drugs

An oral swab test that gives doctors an easy-to-read report to help guide decisions about prescribing depression medications is now available to 50 million Americans on Medicare.

More Medicare Now Covers Genetic Tests for Targeting Depression Drugs

ADHD Surge Is More Marketing Than Medicine

You can't catch attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) but you wouldn't know that by the way diagnoses are spreading - up 10X in some countries. 
More >> ADHD Surge Is More Marketing Than Medicine

How A Nuisance Ordinance Could Threaten Housing for Current, Former Foster Youth

How A Nuisance Ordinance Could Threaten Housing for Current, Former Foster Youth

The Oakland City Council’s unanimous adoption of an amended Nuisance Eviction Ordinance (NEO) threatens the stability of some of our most vulnerable current and former foster youth, particularly those who have been or are currently victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

Vaccine court keeps claimants waiting

A system Congress established to speed help to Americans harmed by vaccines has instead heaped additional suffering on thousands of families, The Associated Press has found.

More >> Vaccine court keeps claimants waiting

ADHD Spurred by Schools?

Can a four-year old child in kindergarten “fall behind” in learning two weeks after starting school? According to notes being sent home from teachers in New York City to mothers of these youngsters, yes. Today children are being asked to learn more, perform better, rank higher and qualify sooner than their counterparts 10, 20, 30 years ago, and it shows. Is the startling number of children diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in fact spurred by schools today?

More >> ADHD Spurred by Schools?

Schools Deal with Behavior Problems

Virginia schools are increasingly confronted with youth who exhibit challenging behavior.

And while schools sometimes use physical restraint and seclusion to de-escalate a crisis, the state does not have any explicit laws or regulations that govern their use.

More >> Schools Deal with Behavior Problems

Most Parents Agree All Kids in Day Care Should Be Vaccinated

About three-quarters of parents would consider removing their childfrom a day care center if some of the other kids there were unvaccinated, a new survey found.

More >> Most Parents Agree All Kids in Day Care Should Be Vaccinated

Why We Need to Abandon the Disease-Model of Mental Health Care

The idea that our more distressing emotions such as grief and anger can best be understood as symptoms of physical illnesses is pervasive and seductive. But in my view it is also a myth, and a harmful one. Our present approach to helping vulnerable people in acute emotional distress is severely hampered by old-fashioned, inhumane and fundamentally unscientific ideas about the nature and origins of mental health problems. We need wholesale and radical change, not only in how we understand mental health problems, but also in how we design and commission mental health services.

More >> Why We Need to Abandon the Disease-Model of Mental Health Care

More than 100,000 anti-psychotic scripts written for KIDS last year

An unprecedented number of children are being prescribed strong anti-psychotic medication, sometimes by doctors who have little experience in dealing with child psychiatric experience.

New figures revealed by the ABC show that more than 100,000 scripts were written for children around Australian for such medications in the past year.

More >> More than 100,000 anti-psychotic scripts written for KIDS last year 

Day care druggings spark call for change; investigation shows provider violated law for years

Lawmakers and children’s advocates are calling for a crackdown on illegal day cares after an Indianapolis provider who’d been cited repeatedly for violations pleaded guilty to drugging children in her care.

More >> Day care druggings spark call for change; investigation shows provider violated law for years

Curb ADD without drugging up your kid

Food can be medicine if done right.

Curb ADD without drugging up your kid

Prenatal Air Pollution Levels Linked to ADHD in Kids

Kids who are exposed to the highest levels of air pollution before birth have a greater risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms than their less exposed peers, according to new research.

More >> Prenatal Air Pollution Levels Linked to ADHD in Kids

Pediatricians Cutting Corners in Diagnosing and Treating ADHD

Previous research has shown that behavior therapy, combined with medication, is the best approach for treating ADHD. Yet a new study shows that physicians fail to assess symptoms thoroughly before making an ADHD diagnosis and rely too heavily on medication to treat it.

More >> Pediatricians Cutting Corners in Diagnosing and Treating ADHD

Typical ADHD care leaves room for improvement, study finds

Many pediatricians provide inadequate care for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), relying too heavily on drugs and failing to thoroughly assess kids' symptoms, a new study reports. 

More >> Typical ADHD care leaves room for improvement, study finds

Psych drugs may harm more than help, author says

Before rushing to medicate people with mental illness, award-winning investigative journalist and author Robert Whitaker advocates another look at what 50 years of research shows: long-term harm may outweigh short-term benefit.

More >> Psych drugs may harm more than help, author says

The Drugging of Child Soldiers

At a time when most kids would be learning algebra, China Keitetsi was already an experienced warrior with many lives on her conscience. Now 27, the former child soldier joined the National Resistance Army in Uganda in the 1980’s, when she was nine years old. There, she was given her fist Uzi. “They gave us weapons, made us fight their war, made us hate, kill, torture, and made us their girlfriends; we had no choice… When I was 14, I gave birth to my son, and when I was 15 years old, I couldn’t count how many officers had already used my body,” she told BBC News earlier this year.

More >> The Drugging of Child Soldiers

Could Psychiatric Care Be Causing Suicides?

What is the reason that people are 44.3 times more likely to commit suicide if they’ve visited a psychiatric hospital within the year? AlterNet has published a commentary by Mad In America News Editor Rob Wipond, discussing the implications of a recent Danish study that either found the best predictors of suicide ever identified, or the worst causes of suicide ever identified.

More >> Could Psychiatric Care Be Causing Suicides?

Babies born through Caesarean section more likely to develop autism, researchers claim

Babies born through Caesarean section are more likely to develop autism, Irish researchers have claimed.

More >> Babies born through Caesarean section more likely to develop autism, researchers claim

HARRINGTON: Adderall inauthenticity

Recently, Viewpoint Writer Hasan Khan advocated the legalization of Adderall for academic use, suggesting that neuroenhancers are the next logical step in harnessing technology to improve our lives. He argued that side effects of Adderall are rare with typical use, its performance-enhancing effects do not create competitive unfairness as do steroids in athletics and legalization would eventually lead to a drop in prices, making Adderall accessible to all. Yesterday, Brennan Edel addressed some flaws in that argument. I take issue another one of Khan’s assumptions. When Khan concludes, “only by decriminalizing neuroenhancers will society enter a new era of productivity,” he implies that such a new era is desirable for humanity. I disagree.

HARRINGTON: Adderall inauthenticity

Mental Health Watchdog Applauds Vatican’s Investigation Into Psychiatric Drugging of Children

The mental health watchdog Citizens Commission on Human Rights applauds the Vatican for launching an investigation into the harmful effects of prescription psychiatric drugs. The conference brings together professionals to discuss the harmful consequences of overusing psychiatric drugs for treating mental and emotional disorders in children, as well as how a similar trend is hurting pregnant mothers

More >> Mental Health Watchdog Applauds Vatican’s Investigation Into Psychiatric Drugging of Children

Educators' misguided belief in 'neuromyths' hinders children's learning, expert says

I’ve noted here before how certain pop-psychology assertions about the brain stubbornly persist, despite being thoroughly debunked by scientists. A 2013 survey found, for example, that 65 percent of Americans still believe in the 80-year-old bogus notion (reinforced this year, unfortunately, by the sci-fi thriller “Lucy”) that humans use only 10 percent of their brain’s capacity.

More >> Educators' misguided belief in 'neuromyths' hinders children's learning, expert says

Parents struggle to find mental health services for children

Kathy Peters’ son was 4 years old the first time he tried to kill his little brother.

More >> Parents struggle to find mental health services for children

Raising children suffering from ADHD

Dealing with a child who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be tricky to deal with. But certainly not impossible. Parents should brace themselves for tantrums, arguments, hyperactivity and mood swings — all classic symptoms of ADHD. Here are some tips for parents on raising children who have ADHD.

More >> Raising children suffering from ADHD

More Than Symptoms at Play in Prescribing ADHD Meds to Kids

New research shows that low maternal education increases the likelihood that a child with ADHD will receive medication, whereas immigrant status decreases the odds.

More >> More Than Symptoms at Play in Prescribing ADHD Meds to Kids

Sample of child patients to test medical marijuana at MUSC

A small group of young patients will make history in South Carolina, testing a CBD extract, or a form of medical marijuana. CBD stands for Cannabidiol.

Sample of child patients to test medical marijuana at MUSC

Sulforaphane Can Help to Control Behavioral Problems Associated With Autism: Study

A latest study has suggested that a chemical present in broccoli sprout can help with behavioral problems in some people with autism.

More >> Sulforaphane Can Help to Control Behavioral Problems Associated With Autism: Study

Drugging Children—Did You Know?

Stop telling pregnant women to go off their antidepressants

Every few months, pregnant women hear another scare story about antidepressant use: The drugs have been linked to birth defects,autism and lung problems in babies. These studies make it seem like giving up antidepressants during pregnancy is the only option, even though it might cost women their health and ability to function.

More >> Stop telling pregnant women to go off their antidepressants

Don't do drugs.

University of Michigan study identifies different types of early child problems

A toddler who doesn't feel guilty after misbehaving or who is less affectionate or less responsive to affection from others might not raise a red flag to parents, but these behaviors may result in later behavior problems in 1st grade.

Read More >> University of Michigan study identifies different types of early child problems

DCF: Redesign children’s mental health system

Connecticut’s child welfare agency issued an ambitious proposal to redesign the publicly financed children’s behavioral health system, calling the existing system “broken” and identifying the need for more services and better access to care.

More >> DCF: Redesign children’s mental health system

Another family to flee N.J. over medical marijuana

A nurse who has staged weekly protests about New Jersey's troubled medical marijuana program is joining an exodus of families with ill children for Colorado.

More >> Another family to flee N.J. over medical marijuana

Psych Meds and Foster Youth: Alameda County California takes on a National Issue

On September 29, around 50 foster youth advocates and mental health professionals crowded into a conference room in Alameda County California’s Behavioral Health Care Services (BHCS) building to discuss the steps the county can take to reduce the overmedication of children in foster care.

Read More >> Psych Meds and Foster Youth: Alameda County California takes on a National Issue

One in four kids on ADHD meds gets therapy too

Most kids in the U.S. who take medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are not getting behavioral counseling therapy as well, according to a new study.

More >> One in four kids on ADHD meds gets therapy too

D’ANTHONY’S STORY

D’ANTHONY’S STORY

Foster care was a life of mind-numbing medications, head-spinning moves and, ultimately, heart-wrenching loneliness — until one adult finally listened and helped him realize there might be a better path

Drugging Our Kids: California calls for new checks on psych meds for foster kids

In a significant step toward curbing the overuse of psychiatric drugs in California's foster care system, doctors will soon be required to get extra authorization to prescribe antipsychotics, a new safeguard to protect some of the state's most overmedicated children.

More >> Drugging Our Kids: California calls for new checks on psych meds for foster kids

Medical marijuana: N.J. child improves as family finds fewer roadblocks in Colorado

The Wilson family left behind their home in Scotch Plains, their family and friends and everything familiar for a moment like this.

More >> Medical marijuana: N.J. child improves as family finds fewer roadblocks in Colorado

A Father's Tale---Forced drugging of his child!

This is the real-life story of one father who has done all he can do to protect his son from the FDA listed side effects, such as hallucinations, delusions, mania, suicidal thoughts and more. His story is one that will surprise you and will open your eyes to our current day world of mental health.

Drugging Our Kids: California calls for new checks on psych meds for foster kids

In a significant step toward curbing the overuse of psychiatric drugs in California's foster care system, doctors will soon be required to get extra authorization to prescribe antipsychotics, a new safeguard to protect some of the state's most overmedicated children.

More >> Drugging Our Kids: California calls for new checks on psych meds for foster kids

How Many Emergency Department Visits Are Due to Adverse Events from Psychiatric Medications?

How Many Emergency Department Visits Are Due to Adverse Events from Psychiatric Medications? 

Psychiatric medications are the cause of a significant number of adverse drug events (ADEs) treated in US emergency department (ED) visits, according to a paper published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Exercise before school day may reduce ADHD symptom severity

Physical activity may reduce symptom severity and moodiness and improve peer functioning among children at risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the home and school domain, according to study findings in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.

More >> Exercise before school day may reduce ADHD symptom severity

CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM OF CARE EXPANSION

Nevada wants to get more kids on psych meds apparently.

CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM OF CARE EXPANSION

These are the 12 drugs sending the most kids to the emergency room

Every year, more than 70,000 kids are taken to the emergency room because they accidentally overdosed on a medication, and most of those kids were less than 2 years old.

Mote >> These are the 12 drugs sending the most kids to the emergency room

Despite Warnings, Antibiotics Still Overprescribed in Kids

Despite warnings from public health experts that overprescribing antibiotics could lead to difficult-to-treat “superbugs,” doctors are prescribing antibiotics to children about twice as often as they are actually needed, a new study found.

More >> Despite Warnings, Antibiotics Still Overprescribed in Kids

Religious orders allowed over 2,000 Irish children to be used in medical experiments

More than 2000 Irish children in religious run homes were subjected to drugs trials in the 1930s according to a shocking new report.

Religious orders allowed over 2,000 Irish children to be used in medical experiments

Congress Asks Why Foster Children Take More Mental Health Meds Than Other Kids

Foster children are medicated with psychotropic drugs at a rate much higher than are other kids, and lawmakers want to know what's to blame: more mental health needs or a problem of overmedication, as advocates and former foster kids have alleged.

Congress Asks Why Foster Children Take More Mental Health Meds Than Other Kids

Drug Firms Have Used Dangerous Tactics to Drive Sales to Treat Kids

There is big money to be made in prescribing medications to kids – especially when those medications are intended to be taken for life, as many psychotropic drugs are.

Drug Firms Have Used Dangerous Tactics to Drive Sales to Treat Kids

Psychiatric drugs can be reason of school attacks in US - expert

Alex Hribal, 16 year old suspect in Wednesday’s stabbing spree at a Pennsylvania high school, has been charged as an adult with four counts of attempted homicide and 21 counts of aggravated assault. Ten students injured in the rampage — including three in critical condition — remain hospitalized. "It is too early to judge what caused this particular school attack, but what we know is that there have been 31 school shootings or related acts of violence of which 6 of those were stabbings. And all 31 of those were either on psychiatric drugs or withdrawing from psychiatric drugs at the time of the incident," Kelly Patricia O’Meara from Citizens Commission on Human Rights, the mental health watchdog based in Los Angeles, told The Voice of Russia.

Read More >> Psychiatric drugs can be reason of school attacks in US - expert

Chinese secretly drug students to boost attendance for revenue: report

Kindergartens in three Chinese provinces have been accused of secretly administering antiviral drugs to children in order to boost attendance for revenue.

Chinese secretly drug students to boost attendance for revenue: report

Chinese media: Kindergartens suspected of drugging students to boost attendance

Are we overdosing our children with Ritalin, aka pediatric cocaine?

American kids are the most medicated in the world. The increase in use of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs has been nothing short of staggering in its scope.

Are we overdosing our children with Ritalin, aka pediatric cocaine?

The Obama Administration has proposed a massive federal program aimed at curbing the use of psychotropic medications to treat foster youths, an issue that appeared on the federal radar in 2011.

Read More >> Obama Budget Calls for $750 Million to Fight Over-Drugging of Foster Youths

More reports filed against day care operator

An Indianapolis day care operator accused of drugging children made her first appearance in court on Monday.

• More reports filed against day care operator

Maryanne Godboldo, recognized world-wide as a hero for standing off a Detroit police SWAT team trying to seize her young daughter to administer the dangerous drug Risperdal in 2011, was in court once again Feb. 14. In a never-ending continuation of the original assault, she is to face criminal charges re-instated by an appeals court after 36th District Court Judge Ronald Giles and Third Judicial Circuit Court Judge Gregory Bill adamantly dismissed them.

Read More >> GLOBAL HERO MARYANNE GODBOLDO BACK IN COURT; NEW CRIMINAL HEARING SET FOR MARCH 14

BAYER CEO: ‘WE DON’T MAKE MEDICINE FOR POOR INDIANS’

In a crass yet frank admission, Bayer CEO Marijn Dekkers said the company’s new cancer drug, Nexavar, is not “for Indians,” but “for western patients who can afford it.” The statement came in the wake in a recent ruling by an Indian court that certain life-saving drugs could be produced and distributed at 97% of the brand-name price.

Read More >> BAYER CEO: ‘WE DON’T MAKE MEDICINE FOR POOR INDIANS’

Parents protest psychiatric meds for children

When Debbie Visicaro saw the protest signs outside the West Pasco Judicial Center on Thursday, she knew she wanted to become involved.

Read More >> Parents protest psychiatric meds for children

Mother Says Her Six-Year-Old Was Given Wrong Medication

A six-year-old ends up in the emergency room after his mother says he was given the wrong dose of medication at a North Little Rock school.

Worcester psychologist advocates drug-free approach for ADHD

Like any psychologist, Dr. Craig Wiener of Worcester was trained to observe. But what he observed 35 years ago while doing postdoctoral work at the Worcester Youth Guidance Center was a little different from what his peers were noticing.

Read more >> Worcester psychologist advocates drug-free approach for ADHD

Anti-vaccination mother tells Family Court immunisation akin to sterilising, changing gender of children

A MUM who has gone to court to fight her ex-husband's bid to have their children vaccinated says the procedure is akin to sterilisation or gender reassignment.


Anti-vaccination mother tells Family Court immunisation akin to sterilising, changing gender of children

Ohio Medicaid data document rising polypharmacy in foster children

Prescribing of three or more psychotropic medications has increased among foster children enrolled in Medicaid, based on an analysis of claims data in Ohio. The findings of polypharmacy are raising red flags about oversight and monitoring of psychotropic medication use among high-risk youth.

Ohio Medicaid data document rising polypharmacy in foster children