OT: Congressional hearing on child drugging

[Guest guest]

VERACARE <veracare@...> wrote: From: " VERACARE "

<veracare@...>

" Infomail1ahrp (DOT) org " <Infomail1@...>

Subject: Congress: Hearing on Psych Drugging of Children

Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2008 14:15:58 -0500

ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION

Promoting Openness, Full Disclosure, and Accountability

http://www.ahrp.org and http://ahrp.blogspot.com

FYI

The irresponsible drugging of children in foster care is the subject

of a

hearing by the House Subcommittee on Income Security and Family

Support of

the Ways and Means Committee, on Wednesday, March 12.

Contact: Vera Hassner Sharav

veracare@...

212-595-8974

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

SUBCOMMITTEE ON INCOME SECURITY AND FAMILY SUPPORT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 05, 2008

CONTACT: (202) 225-1025

McDermott Announces Hearing on the Utilization of Psychotropic

Medication for Children in Care

Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on

Income Security and Family Support, today announced a hearing to

examine

the

use of psychotropic drugs for children in the foster care system. The

hearing will take place on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. in

room B-318 Rayburn House Office Building.

In view of the limited time available to hear witnesses, oral

testimony at this hearing will be from invited witnesses only.

However, any

individual or organization not scheduled for an oral appearance may

submit a written statement for consideration by the subcommittee and

for inclusion in the printed record of the hearing.

BACKGROUND:

Psychotropic medications have been increasingly prescribed for

children in recent years, but the use of these drugs appears to be

particularly

elevated for children in foster care. One recent study found that

psychotropic drug treatment was three or four times more common for

youth in foster care than for other children receiving health care

services through the Medicaid program. Additionally, children in

foster care are often prescribed multiple psychotropic medications,

and

sometimes these drugs are used for off-label purposes (i.e., meaning

their effects have not been demonstrated in children). These

medicines are most commonly used to treat depression, anxiety and

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

While the trauma associated with coming into foster care may increase

some children's need for certain prescription drugs, the high rate of

use of psychotropic medications in foster care has raised concerns

regarding the monitoring of these drugs and whether a continuum of

treatment services is being provided to these children beyond

medication. It appears only a minority of States have established

methods to formally regulate the use and administration of these

medications among children in their care.

In announcing the hearing, Chairman McDermott stated, " Some children

in foster care need and benefit from psychotropic medication. But

these

drugs should not be used as a shortcut to treat foster children when

more effective treatments, including counseling, might provide long-

term

benefits. We need to carefully oversee the prescription of these

medicines, especially when it comes to placing foster children on

multiple drugs or prescribing medication for off-label use. "

FOCUS OF THE HEARING:

The hearing will examine the use of prescription psychotropic drugs

among children in the foster care system.

More here: http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?

formmode=view & id=6829

_____

Petition Against TeenScreen. 25,352 Signatures

English http://www.petitiononline.com/TScreen/petition.html

Spanish http://www.psychsearch.net/votos.html

Italian http://www.psychsearch.net/italiani.html

French http://www.enfantshyperactifs.com/petition-a-signer/

Video: