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Some Parents Eager for Drug Tests on Tots

May 15, 2006 10:24 AM

We heard from many readers on our story about preschool kids being recruited for an experiment with drugs to treat bipolar disease.  There are many parents who strongly support the idea.  Others object, however.  Here are some of the comments.

"'First do no harm.' This is the hypocratic oath that the physician takes when graduating from medical school. I do understand and appreciate the need for research; however, to conduct such research on young, vulnerable, developing brains; I feel that this is treading in dangerous territories. Seroquel is one of the newer anti-psychotic drugs, this drug has a very powerful effect on adults. I cannot begin to imagine what it is going to do to the minds of young children that are going into this study with a previously documented mental illness."

"Had you done just a little more research, you'd find that these medications are commonly prescribed to children with severe mental illness, despite the fact thorough clincial trials have not been completed. I think Biederman's lab is attempting to evaluate such practice in a very controlled manner, so that we can have more reliable information on the efficacy of such practice. I've no doubt that all parents are presented with a full explanation of potential risks via an informed consent process prior to entering their children in to the study. You cite one study on 5 kids, on a different drug, with a different population as evidence for your point of view. That's a very inadequate argument. This is irresponisible journalism, and you're misleading the public."

"The use of these drugs on children is unconscionable. There are many other options for helping psychiatrically disabled children besides using these highly potent drugs. I wish more federal research dollars were going into non-drug therapies for kids who need extra support."

"This is irresponsible journalism. I am appalled that it is coming from ABC, a prestigious news channel. I suggest ABC should immediately acknowledge that this report is incomplete and irresponsible in World News and Good Morning America. ABC should ask Dr. Tim Johnson to get all the information and report it within a week out of respect for the parents, Dr. Joseph Biederman, the Hospital and the public. This is the only responsible action. This is not respectful journalism. This is worse than tabloid. I wonder if journalists take the oath to be responsible, honest, respectful and thorough!"

"Kudos to ABC News for exposing this one aspect of the psychiatric fraud being perpetrated on all Americans. Without science, without results, but highly paid, how long before Americans wake up to the scam? This ABC News coverage has helped wake the sleeping giant! Thank you."

"I think you should keep your negative comments to yourself. Bipolar disorder is hereditary and does exist in children from birth. It doesn't just appear out of the clear blue sky. The appropriate mood stabilizing medication, judiciously prescribed by a reputable child psychiatrist, has literally saved my child's life."

"Unfortunately, most people have no idea what it's like to be that parent of a young child with a mood disorder. Putting a child on an anti-psychotic drug is done as a last resort when all else fails.
Most parents struggle with this decision and don't take it likely."

May 15, 2006 | Permalink | User Comments (12)

User Comments

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You have no right to mislead the public, and putting kids on drugs needs to stop,the negative results are all over the country.
to this date the Psych's have not cured one single human problem, the drugs just cover it up.
This needs to stop,now

Posted by: Alan | May 16, 2006 7:55:24 AM

While my empathy goes out to any parent with a child that has "unexplained" moods or outbursts, it's simply FALSE that "bipolar" is a disease, heriditary or otherwise. All one needs to do is look at the definition of the word "disease", and then look at the "Science" behind the claims. Nothing but theory and conjecture. I realize that a desperate parent will cling to any "truth" especially when its' "solution" (drugs) has the apparancy of handling the situation. But let's be frank, a ged out, numbed child, you doesn't feel ANYTHING, isn't "cured", not to mention the side affects. It's sad that these desperate parents are being taken advantage of and fed lies. Fortunately the truth is slowly emerging about the fraud and dangers of Psychiatry and Psychiatric .

Posted by: Ron Meyerson | May 16, 2006 12:49:38 PM

A parent is seriously mislead who believes his child is "cured" of anything because of a psycotropic drug. You could get the same "results" with cocaine or marijuana. PARENTS: Your child very likely has a MEDICAL problem. That's not the same as a psychological problem or even a "brain disorder." Read the book The Hyperactivity Hoax by prominent neuropsychiatrist Dr. Sydney Walker. He has found most victims of a hyperactivity diagnosis to actually have real medical problems such as tumors, poor eyesight or hearing, parasites, lead poisoning, and the list goes on. A parent is simply being irresponsible to put their troublesome child on a drug that merely suppresses their energy and emotions. Dr. Walker has found that despite drug intervention, the prognosis for many hyperactive children is poor — with links to violence, poor social relationships, alcoholism, and drug abuse in adulthood. It will be found to be no different with these "new" drugs.

Posted by: Mike G. | May 16, 2006 1:52:26 PM

Bravo, for posting this story. I was personally sickened by the content of it. Is there no level too low for large pharmaceutical companies to sink?

There is no nation on earth that apparently needs drugs in the volume that they are required in America. The result being is that they now go after the children so they can get them use to taking drugs for the rest of their lives. There is no reason to drug children except in exceptional cases where it is for the over all well being of the child and not the drug company.

One does not deny a child morphine when they are run over in the street. But to push addictive cocaine type substances on children is government sponsored drug pushing. The pharmaceutical cartels are making billions off the agony of America's children with the aid of these Mengala type programs.

Posted by: John Bell | May 16, 2006 2:19:53 PM

The truth is psychiatry harms children. Having worked in a behavioral health hospital for over five years, I have seen children come and go, with no improvement. I have seen kids leave the hospital no better off than when they arrived. I have seen active children become slowed down, drugged, zombie-like. I have seen the lost look in these kids eyes after a few days of treatment. I have seen kids reacting to being overmedicated. I have seen kids desperate for the love of their parents, but being brushed off by them when they visit. What I have seen is the bright light of interest in these kids eyes going dark. You can literally watch these kids giving up on themselves and becoming robotic. It's very sad.
If you are a parent considering bringing your child to a psychaitrist, DON'T! If you are a parent considering following the instructions of a psychaitrist, DON'T! And don't listen to their "reasons" why you should. Those reasons may sound intelligent, but when put to use they cause real harm. Your child deserves so much better than that.

Posted by: Kevin | May 16, 2006 2:42:45 PM

Sad...

Posted by: John | May 16, 2006 5:50:33 PM

My son was killed by one of these drugs. For any parents out there who are reading this, I beg you not to use these drugs.

Posted by: Susan | May 16, 2006 9:36:06 PM

I guess the FDA and drug companies have learned nothing from the affects of other psych drugs on chldren under 18. How can they be banning them on one hand and "testing" them on the other?
Charlotte

Posted by: Charlotte | May 17, 2006 9:20:12 AM

Psychiatry harms and I have firsthand proof of that. I have experienced unspeakable horrors while being drugged and my mom and her husband don't really care because I was nicer. I was drugged for over a third of my life and I still have a lot of recovering to do. I have a strong personality that can intimidate sometimes, and at the time she started drugging me I was a jerk, but for one thing that didn't mean I was brain defective and for another, no one should have to experience the horrors that I did. Maybe I'll elaborate another time.

Posted by: JS | Jul 5, 2007 4:41:10 PM

"These survey results underscore that it is critical to educate and prepare the next generation to make ethical decisions - even during the most stressful, pressure-filled situations," Deloitte & Touche USA CEO Jim Quigley said. "The business community has seen how ignoring ethical responsibilities can lead to devastating results. All of us in business owe it to the next generation to teach, model and support ethical standards every step of the way."In addition, more than 40 percent of teens have a dim outlook on their peers' ethics, ranking high school students as less ethical than doctors, teachers, professional athletes and business leaders.
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daisy

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Posted by: Drug Intervention | Mar 6, 2009 8:43:35 AM

The best time to perform an intervention is just after a major event. Such an event would be that the addict got arrested, or when he/she has wronged (lied, stolen, cheated etc.) a family member and would show remorse or guilt. Another good time would be if his /her spouse is leaving, if they are about to loose custody of the kids.

Posted by: jackspar | Mar 7, 2009 9:48:35 AM

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