Big rise in number of UK children given mind-altering drugs

[Guest guest]

Big rise in number of children given mind-altering drugs

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1353703,00.html#conten

t#content

Boseley, health editor

Thursday November 18, 2004

The Guardian

The number of children in the UK being prescribed antidepressants,

stimulants and other mind-altering drugs is soaring faster than

anywhere in the world, it is revealed today.

The drugs include Prozac and Seroxat, which other studies have shown

are handed out for depression to some children before they reach

school age, and stimulants like Ritalin, which is given to children

with behavioural problems, diagnosed as attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder.

While it is possible that more children are on psychotropic drugs

because their illnesses are being better diagnosed, Ian Wong, of the

Centre for Paediatric Pharmacy Research at London University, and

colleagues say they are concerned " as little research has been

conducted in children to study the effects of most psychotropic

medications. "

Two studies by the team are published today in the medical journal

Archives of Disease in Childhood. The first compares data on the

prescribing of all psychotropic drugs to children from 2000-2002 in

the nine countries where the drugs have most sales. In the UK,

prescriptions have risen from around 400,000 in 2000 to more than

600,000 in 2001 and then to more than 700,000 in 2002, an increase

of 68%. The rise in the UK is higher than in the US, Canada, France,

Germany, Spain, Argentinia, Brazil or Mexico.

Dr Wong and colleagues warn that " children are not small adults " -

because they are growing, their bodies react differently to

medicines. Although the drugs have been tested in adults, very few

have been trialled in children.

The authors say: " We believe the use of psychotropic medications in

children is a global public health issue, which should be studied in

partnership with pharmaceutical companies, governments and

researchers to grow and expand the evidence base for their use in

children, " they say.

The second study looks at the growing use of antidepressants for

children in the UK over the 10 years from January 1992 to December

2001. The rate at which the drugs were being prescribed to children

rose by 70%.

" The concern is that we don't know what the long-term effects are, "

said Macey Murray, lead author of the second study. " If they start

quite early on, we don't know exactly how that will affect their

development because the studies haven't been done. "

Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said: " While it

is good that the existence of mental health problems in children and

teenagers is becoming more recognised, it is still disturbing to see

such a large increase in prescriptions for children.

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of mental health charity Sane,

said: " What we need is more research into the effects of medications

on the developing brain, so that safer medical treatments can be

offered, as well as an urgent increase in the numbers of therapists

for young people who are ill and their families. "

[Guest guest]

Big rise in number of children given mind-altering drugs

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1353703,00.html#conten

t#content

Boseley, health editor

Thursday November 18, 2004

The Guardian

The number of children in the UK being prescribed antidepressants,

stimulants and other mind-altering drugs is soaring faster than

anywhere in the world, it is revealed today.

The drugs include Prozac and Seroxat, which other studies have shown

are handed out for depression to some children before they reach

school age, and stimulants like Ritalin, which is given to children

with behavioural problems, diagnosed as attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder.

While it is possible that more children are on psychotropic drugs

because their illnesses are being better diagnosed, Ian Wong, of the

Centre for Paediatric Pharmacy Research at London University, and

colleagues say they are concerned " as little research has been

conducted in children to study the effects of most psychotropic

medications. "

Two studies by the team are published today in the medical journal

Archives of Disease in Childhood. The first compares data on the

prescribing of all psychotropic drugs to children from 2000-2002 in

the nine countries where the drugs have most sales. In the UK,

prescriptions have risen from around 400,000 in 2000 to more than

600,000 in 2001 and then to more than 700,000 in 2002, an increase

of 68%. The rise in the UK is higher than in the US, Canada, France,

Germany, Spain, Argentinia, Brazil or Mexico.

Dr Wong and colleagues warn that " children are not small adults " -

because they are growing, their bodies react differently to

medicines. Although the drugs have been tested in adults, very few

have been trialled in children.

The authors say: " We believe the use of psychotropic medications in

children is a global public health issue, which should be studied in

partnership with pharmaceutical companies, governments and

researchers to grow and expand the evidence base for their use in

children, " they say.

The second study looks at the growing use of antidepressants for

children in the UK over the 10 years from January 1992 to December

2001. The rate at which the drugs were being prescribed to children

rose by 70%.

" The concern is that we don't know what the long-term effects are, "

said Macey Murray, lead author of the second study. " If they start

quite early on, we don't know exactly how that will affect their

development because the studies haven't been done. "

Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said: " While it

is good that the existence of mental health problems in children and

teenagers is becoming more recognised, it is still disturbing to see

such a large increase in prescriptions for children.

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of mental health charity Sane,

said: " What we need is more research into the effects of medications

on the developing brain, so that safer medical treatments can be

offered, as well as an urgent increase in the numbers of therapists

for young people who are ill and their families. "

[Guest guest]

Big rise in number of children given mind-altering drugs

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1353703,00.html#conten

t#content

Boseley, health editor

Thursday November 18, 2004

The Guardian

The number of children in the UK being prescribed antidepressants,

stimulants and other mind-altering drugs is soaring faster than

anywhere in the world, it is revealed today.

The drugs include Prozac and Seroxat, which other studies have shown

are handed out for depression to some children before they reach

school age, and stimulants like Ritalin, which is given to children

with behavioural problems, diagnosed as attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder.

While it is possible that more children are on psychotropic drugs

because their illnesses are being better diagnosed, Ian Wong, of the

Centre for Paediatric Pharmacy Research at London University, and

colleagues say they are concerned " as little research has been

conducted in children to study the effects of most psychotropic

medications. "

Two studies by the team are published today in the medical journal

Archives of Disease in Childhood. The first compares data on the

prescribing of all psychotropic drugs to children from 2000-2002 in

the nine countries where the drugs have most sales. In the UK,

prescriptions have risen from around 400,000 in 2000 to more than

600,000 in 2001 and then to more than 700,000 in 2002, an increase

of 68%. The rise in the UK is higher than in the US, Canada, France,

Germany, Spain, Argentinia, Brazil or Mexico.

Dr Wong and colleagues warn that " children are not small adults " -

because they are growing, their bodies react differently to

medicines. Although the drugs have been tested in adults, very few

have been trialled in children.

The authors say: " We believe the use of psychotropic medications in

children is a global public health issue, which should be studied in

partnership with pharmaceutical companies, governments and

researchers to grow and expand the evidence base for their use in

children, " they say.

The second study looks at the growing use of antidepressants for

children in the UK over the 10 years from January 1992 to December

2001. The rate at which the drugs were being prescribed to children

rose by 70%.

" The concern is that we don't know what the long-term effects are, "

said Macey Murray, lead author of the second study. " If they start

quite early on, we don't know exactly how that will affect their

development because the studies haven't been done. "

Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said: " While it

is good that the existence of mental health problems in children and

teenagers is becoming more recognised, it is still disturbing to see

such a large increase in prescriptions for children.

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of mental health charity Sane,

said: " What we need is more research into the effects of medications

on the developing brain, so that safer medical treatments can be

offered, as well as an urgent increase in the numbers of therapists

for young people who are ill and their families. "

[Guest guest]

Big rise in number of children given mind-altering drugs

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1353703,00.html#conten

t#content

Boseley, health editor

Thursday November 18, 2004

The Guardian

The number of children in the UK being prescribed antidepressants,

stimulants and other mind-altering drugs is soaring faster than

anywhere in the world, it is revealed today.

The drugs include Prozac and Seroxat, which other studies have shown

are handed out for depression to some children before they reach

school age, and stimulants like Ritalin, which is given to children

with behavioural problems, diagnosed as attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder.

While it is possible that more children are on psychotropic drugs

because their illnesses are being better diagnosed, Ian Wong, of the

Centre for Paediatric Pharmacy Research at London University, and

colleagues say they are concerned " as little research has been

conducted in children to study the effects of most psychotropic

medications. "

Two studies by the team are published today in the medical journal

Archives of Disease in Childhood. The first compares data on the

prescribing of all psychotropic drugs to children from 2000-2002 in

the nine countries where the drugs have most sales. In the UK,

prescriptions have risen from around 400,000 in 2000 to more than

600,000 in 2001 and then to more than 700,000 in 2002, an increase

of 68%. The rise in the UK is higher than in the US, Canada, France,

Germany, Spain, Argentinia, Brazil or Mexico.

Dr Wong and colleagues warn that " children are not small adults " -

because they are growing, their bodies react differently to

medicines. Although the drugs have been tested in adults, very few

have been trialled in children.

The authors say: " We believe the use of psychotropic medications in

children is a global public health issue, which should be studied in

partnership with pharmaceutical companies, governments and

researchers to grow and expand the evidence base for their use in

children, " they say.

The second study looks at the growing use of antidepressants for

children in the UK over the 10 years from January 1992 to December

2001. The rate at which the drugs were being prescribed to children

rose by 70%.

" The concern is that we don't know what the long-term effects are, "

said Macey Murray, lead author of the second study. " If they start

quite early on, we don't know exactly how that will affect their

development because the studies haven't been done. "

Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said: " While it

is good that the existence of mental health problems in children and

teenagers is becoming more recognised, it is still disturbing to see

such a large increase in prescriptions for children.

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of mental health charity Sane,

said: " What we need is more research into the effects of medications

on the developing brain, so that safer medical treatments can be

offered, as well as an urgent increase in the numbers of therapists

for young people who are ill and their families. "