Hearings on Government Using Mind Altering Drugs

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Washington Post, September 30, 1970, FDA Warns against Uses of “Behavior” Amphetamines, By Robert C. Maynard....1970 Federal hearings focus on the Right to Privacy relating to the Government promoting and giving out behavioral drugs and force drugging children within government programs.

Fast forward to today, 2008, We allow the States and Federal Government to use mind altering drugs on children within state care, and we have the Chairman of the subcommittee saying that the children "need and benefit from the psychotropic drugs" there goes the ethics of that hearing, the cost our children in foster care. Sounds wonderful the government wants to finally start asking for some accountability, but doesn't want to actually question the ethics of a State using behavioral drugs on their captives "WARDS of STATES" foster care children.


ADVISORY

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

SUBCOMMITTEE ON INCOME SECURITY AND FAMILY SUPPORT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 05, 2008
ISFS-16
CONTACT: (202) 225-1025

McDermott Announces Hearing on the Utilization of Psychotropic Medication for Children in Foster 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.

 

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Psychiatrist Blames Bad Gene Pool for Massive

Drugging of Foster Care Children in Texas

Does this indicate the Resurgence of Eugenics in America?

On October 4, 2004 in a Texas Committee hearing on Psychotropic Drugs and Foster Care Children, human and children rights advocates were stunned when psychiatrist, Joe Burkett, informed the committee that one of the main reasons so many foster kids need to be on psychotropic drugs is “they are very sick, from a Bad Gene pool”. Another psychiatrist, Dr.Sargent, re-emphasized how very sick these kids are, and how these children’s brains are wired differently, requiring them to receive “expert” psychiatric care.

“This Bad Gene Pool” and “sickness” belief system is very alarming to many child right advocates who look to find effective, healthy, non-drug solutions for children in state care; children who more than likely have experienced trauma and stress within their environment and have had natural reactions to such. John Breeding, founder of Texans for Safe Education and author of “The Wildest Colts Make the Best Horses”, and “True Nature and Great Misunderstandings” testified before the committee. Dr. Breeding challenged the Bad Gene Pool theory. “That is just not true. Once we label these children, we stop thinking of strategies to help them succeed and master the coping skills needed in society.” Dr. Breeding called for a seven-step approach to reform, which would include strengthening informed consent laws, thereby increasing the likelihood that accurate information regarding the subjective nature of the diagnoses, being all too eagerly assigned to children placed in state care, is given to childcare providers. This would also ensure that state childcare providers given all the information, would be less likely to discount the overwhelming risks associated with drug “treatment”.



Texas is not the first state that has initiated hearings, investigations, and litigation regarding widespread abuse, which includes the rampant drugging of children within state foster care.

· Massachusetts just this year launched an investigation into tracking how many of its children in state care are on psychiatric drugs. http://www.ablechild.org/newsarchive/prevalence_of_drugs_for_dss_ward 8-9-04.htm.

· Washington, California, Illinois, and Florida are just some of the other states that have tackled the overall systemic abuse as well. http://www.ablechild.org/newsarchive/a critical look at the foster care 4-16-98.htm. http://www.ablechild.org/newsarchive/use_of_drugs_to_control_kids_worries specialists 7-23-04.htm.

· Last year, Connecticut was the first state to actually ban the use of two unapproved antidepressants on children in state care. http://ablechild.org/press release/Ablechild wins request 7-16-03.htm


What is quite clear from this is that children in the foster care system nationwide are clearly unprotected on a human rights level, and with current “bad gene pool/sickness” ideology being spread publicly, there is little hope that the current nationwide crisis within state foster care programs will get any better.

Two psychiatrists spouting comments regarding “bad genes” is alarming to say the least, but what is more disturbing is the unanswered question: Does this indicate that the American Psychiatric Association condones such ideology? If so, is any hope lying ahead for children remanded into state care? Or, are these children designated “human research subjects” for popular and profitable drug “treatments”? Ideology espousing concepts of “bad genes” and inferiority among humans based on characteristics bares a striking resemblance to the science of Eugenics that deals with the improvement of races and breeds, especially the human race, through the control of hereditary factors. We can recall that Hitler employed this same ideology in Nazi Germany. What many do not recall however is that it was also used in our country in the early 20th century within mental asylums when experimentations were conducted on people deemed an inferior sect of human beings.

This mindset contrasts sharply with our country’s founded principals of democracy, which espouses that all men are created equal.

Ablechild’s National Vice President, Ms. Sheila Matthews stated that, “This Bad Gene Pool” comment is very damning to the entire psychiatric industry and should send a wake up call to all America! These children are clearly vulnerable and are fair game for drug research, with no accountability whatsoever. All who care for children should be distraught at this public display of disregard for these children’s health and safety.”

 

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Behind Closed Doors
Drug Company Lobbies Connecticut DCF Officials
For Access to Children in State Care

www.ablechild.org is outraged that the Commissioner of the State Department of Children and Families (DCF) meets behind closed doors with the manufacturer of the drug “Paxil” that has been linked to suicidal thoughts in children without any oversight. This raises ethical questions.

The FDA has warned that “Paxil” should not be used in children, and the United Kingdom has banned its use. In November 2002, Fox National News exposed confidential documents from the manufacturer of “Paxil” which suggested that a patient taking the drug was 8 times more likely to commit suicide then a patient on placebo (sugar pill).

In Connecticut in May of 1997, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals-Biological Division sponsored Workshops in Connecticut on Strategies for Drug Development and Trials in children at Yale Department of Pediatrics, and Yale Child Health Research Center in New Haven, Connecticut as well as Yale Child Study Center. What role does DCF children play in clinical drug trials?

The Associated Press exposed that 396 children under 4 years old who were covered by Medicaid were prescribed psychiatric drugs. The Associated Press also reported that $5.8 million in state Medicaid money was spent each year on psychiatric drugs for children with State insurance.

It is shocking that DCF, who has a total lack of accountability for previous involvement in the trafficking of children in State care into behavioral drug use, is meeting directly with the drug manufacturer of “Paxil” without any oversight. The Governor wasn’t even informed that the meeting was held yesterday, no minutes of the meeting were taken, and the purpose of the meeting was not disclosed.

However, our organization was told by DCF that the foreign-based drug manufacturer has been invited to participate in upcoming policy meetings on psychotropic drugs in September within the Department of Children and Family Services in Connecticut. Our Connecticut children in DCF care lack basic education, yet we are spending massive amounts of money on behavioral drugs. This is unethical. We have a shortage of basic access to tutoring that is sorely needed for children in state custody.

It is like putting the fox in charge of the hen house. The children’s safety, well being, and their basic constitutional rights should force the closed doors open. Our Connecticut based National Parent Organization, Parents for Label & Drug Free Education; www.ablechild.org has requested access and oversight, which we have not received.

Thanks for letting me share this important data that never seems to be covered on National Television.

 

[anonymous6728]

Drugging kids and the infirmed has been going on for decades

I've worked in the education, social work & geriatric fields & I can tell you that this stuff has been going on for decades.

In K-6 education, ritalin is increasingly being used by female teachers to control rambunctious boys, though this has been going on for 40 years at least.

In group homes and personal care homes, the doctors run the show. The list of meds is incalculable & staff tend to over-medicate to keep the clients easier to manage.

Now they're passing around antidepressants like candy to youth and adults. If you're looking for an alternate way of treating illness, check out this link. It is written by an M.D. who is also a naturopath. The stuff he wrote makes a lot of sense.

http://www.healthfree.com/nutritional_power_robbins.html

 

[IcyPeaceMaker]

I love it, the government can drug your kids, but if you get caught with a joint, they throw you in jail. God, I hate the government!

 

[Poltiical_Rebel]

Another reason for a massive change

The government is permitted to drug you but you to do it yourself is bad.

Is there something wrong with this?
Why are they shoving antidepressants into peoples throats? My grandma turned in from an open and talkative person into a closed up shop when she was on them and she had severe mood swings on them. She's gotten off of them and is living with other family now and is now more open again.

We even pay for this drug war, why should we pay for unproven drugs? Why should we pay for mistakes?