Drugging Foster Kids: Let’s Do Something About It

Foster children are a lucrative market for psychotropic drug sales. Unlike adults, they can’t say “no, I won’t take any more of that drug.” Unlike children living with parents, their parents cannot say “I don’t like what that drug is doing.” Responsibility for prescribing is diffused confusingly among foster parents, caseworkers, child welfare supervisors, group home administrators, and prescribers. All are involved, but their roles in medication decisions are overlapping and ill-defined. It is easy for each to say, “it wasn’t my decision.

 More >> Drugging Foster Kids: Let’s Do Something About It

Study finds foster kids given wrong drug prescriptions

When federal inspectors set out to examine how powerful antipsychotic drugs were being used on children in the nation’s public health systems, they found a 4-year-old on four psychiatric drugs; a 10-year-old prescribed without medical records; and a 16-year-old on six psych meds, including a prescription at double the maximum recommended dosage.

More >> Study finds foster kids given wrong drug prescriptions

Pediatrics Group Says Schools Shouldn’t Drug Test

A leading U.S. pediatrics group is recommending against in-school drug testing as a way to prevent young people from experimenting with illegal substances.

More >> Pediatrics Group Says Schools Shouldn’t Drug Test

Federal study finds alarming use of antipsychotics among nation's poor children, foster kids

When federal inspectors set out to examine how powerful antipsychotic drugs were being used on children in the nation's public health systems, they found a 4-year-old on four psychiatric drugs, a 10-year-old prescribed without medical records, and a 16-year-old on six psych meds, including a prescription at double the maximum recommended dosage.

More >> Federal study finds alarming use of antipsychotics among nation's poor children, foster kids

Foster care kids put on too many psych drugs, report says

Many children in foster care are being overmedicated with antipsychotic drugs they may not really need, or the drugs are being given incorrectly, according to a government review obtained by CBS News.

Foster care kids put on too many psych drugs, report says

THE DRUGGING OF AMERICA'S YOUTH: ADHD DIAGNOSIS IS TOO SUBJECTIVE

The first writings about ADHD were attributed to Dr. Heinrich Hoffmann, who wrote a children’s book titled, “The Story of Fidgety Philip.” Since that time, there have been tens of thousands of papers describing impulsivity and hyperactivity in both children and adults.

More >> THE DRUGGING OF AMERICA'S YOUTH: ADHD DIAGNOSIS IS TOO SUBJECTIVE

Are doctors following best practice when prescribing antipsychotic meds to kids?

There’s been a lot of attention in the media about the number of children taking antipsychotic and other psychiatric medications. The assumption behind most of these stories is that these drugs are being overprescribed, and given to children with minor behavioral issues. A recent story in a European newspaper about the increased use of ADHD medications, for example, was headlined “Zombie Generation.” Yet the reality is there’s very little data to tell us the degree to which these medications are being used appropriately or not.

More >> Are doctors following best practice when prescribing antipsychotic meds to kids?

Parents, do you know who owns your children?

COMMUNITY Anti-vaccinating and free-roaming are two issues involving who has say over our children.

More >> Parents, do you know who owns your children?

The Drugging of Children in Foster Care

It's no secret that here in America, foster children are being prescribed psychiatric drugs, especially neuroleptics, as a means of controlling their behavior.  A great deal has been said and written on the matter.  Politicians have declared the practice deplorable.  Children's advocacy groups have expressed concern, and, of course, those of us in the antipsychiatry movement have screamed till we're hoarse.  But the problem persists.

More >> The Drugging of Children in Foster Care

Bills banning most vaccine exemptions fail in Oregon, Washington

Legislative efforts to increase pressure on parents to get their kids vaccinated failed in Oregon and Washington Wednesday amid stiff opposition as a handful of other statehouses consider similar bills prompted by a measles outbreak at Disneyland.

More >> Bills banning most vaccine exemptions fail in Oregon, Washington

Study finds 17% of college students misuse ADHD drugs

At college, students can come under a lot of pressure to achieve good results, but, unfortunately, a large number may be resorting to risky methods to deal with expectations. A recent literature review reports that 1 in 6 college students misuse stimulant medications prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

More >> Study finds 17% of college students misuse ADHD drugs

Parents take extreme steps to keep their kids from the unvaccinated

Bay Area mother formed a Facebook page where parents could arrange play dates for their children with other vaccinated youngsters. Another mom advocates socially isolating the unvaccinated by asking parents if their child is inoculated before accepting a birthday invitation, or even using the swings at the playground. And an Eagle Rock mom says she now asks about vaccine records when she buys used baby clothing.

More >> Parents take extreme steps to keep their kids from the unvaccinated

You just gotta love the helicopter parents, eh?

FSU opens new clinic to find positives of ADHD

A Florida State University researcher has opened a new clinic that will provide assessment and treatment services for Tallahassee-area families with children suspected of having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

More >> FSU opens new clinic to find positives of ADHD

Why Foster Youth Are Overmedicated

An recent article in the Los Angeles Times addressed what some suggest is the over-medication of children in the Los Angeles County foster care system. Certainly this is a significant issue, and indeed, if children are being overmedicated, it must be addressed.

More >> Why Foster Youth Are Overmedicated

Responding to reports of drugged foster youth, California lawmakers propose greater oversight

At a hearing Tuesday, California lawmakers will examine why the state's foster children are being prescribed psychiatric drugs at three times the rate of other youth.

More >> Responding to reports of drugged foster youth, California lawmakers propose greater oversight

More >> Hundreds more foster kids given drugs than first disclosed

Mercury News editorial: Foster kids need legal protection against over-drugging

A wave of legislation about to hit the California Legislature on the alarming pattern of over-drugging foster children will require careful navigating. But it's heartening that lawmakers are anxious to deal with the problems described in heartbreaking detail over the past year by the Bay Area News Group's Karen de S.

More >> Mercury News editorial: Foster kids need legal protection against over-drugging

Drugging All The Little Children

Here is a link to a poem for you to ponder.

More >> Drugging All The Little Children

Towards a Ban on Psychiatrically Diagnosing and Drugging Children

Instead of hope and enthusiasm for their futures, too many children now grow up believing they are inherently defective, and controlled by bad genes and biochemical imbalances.  They are shackled by the idea that they have ADHD and then subdued by the drugs that inevitably go along with the diagnosis.  Unless something intervenes, many of them will go on to pass their days on Earth in a drug-impaired, demoralized state.

More >> Towards a Ban on Psychiatrically Diagnosing and Drugging Children

Antipsychotics in Kids: Best Practices Followed Half the Time

Physicians follow "best practice" guidelines when prescribing antipsychotics to children and adolescents only about half the time, with failure to monitor cholesterol and blood sugar levels their main misstep, new research shows.

More >> Antipsychotics in Kids: Best Practices Followed Half the Time

Why Are More Kids on Antipsychotics?

More children are being prescribed antipsychotic medications — drugs designed to treat such mental illnesses as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder — and pediatricians and psychiatrists at the University of Vermont conducted a study to find out why.

More >> Why Are More Kids on Antipsychotics?

Penn and Teller on Vaccinations

Jimmy Kimmel Mocks Anti-Vaccination Advocates With “A Child’s Right To Choose” Video

Jimmy Kimmel tackled the topic of whether or not to vaccinate children in a comedy bit on Monday’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” The talk show host couldn’t be more clear that he absolutely thinks all children should get vaccinated, and that there’s no health risk to it. Kimmel said this “shouldn’t be a topic at all anymore.” After getting a tremendous backlash for a pro-vaxx stance PSA he aired last week, Kimmel sent out two anti-vaccine crusaders to push their agenda of a “child’s right to choose” whether they should or shouldn’t get vaccinated. Check out the video below!

More >> Jimmy Kimmel Mocks Anti-Vaccination Advocates With “A Child’s Right To Choose” Video