Spring Break
We are over-medicating children
Andrew Browning
Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: Opinion
On the other hand, I have worked with a lot of people who have disabilities, especially children. I have seen first-hand the number of medications and the subsequent side effects they have. It seems like doctors are just going through the motions when prescribing medications, and I fail to recognize how pills can be the answer.
Thinking back to my own childhood, I realize that I exhibited some of the same symptoms as these children. I had mood swings, tantrums and explosive irritability, which are all possible symptoms of bipolar disorder in children. What child at one point or another does not exhibit these types of behaviors? I also had an incredibly hard time paying attention and focusing on any one thing at a time. I struggled all the way through high school.
I am sure if I were a child today, I would be prescribed medication after medication as a way to force me to pay attention and become sedentary in class. I am glad I was never prescribed any medications growing up.
Sticking a wrench in the cognitive and emotional development of a child can have devastating effects, and it is not the answer. If you want to form your own opinion, you can watch the episode for free online at: www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/medicatedchild/.
Thinking back to my own childhood, I realize that I exhibited some of the same symptoms as these children. I had mood swings, tantrums and explosive irritability, which are all possible symptoms of bipolar disorder in children. What child at one point or another does not exhibit these types of behaviors? I also had an incredibly hard time paying attention and focusing on any one thing at a time. I struggled all the way through high school.
I am sure if I were a child today, I would be prescribed medication after medication as a way to force me to pay attention and become sedentary in class. I am glad I was never prescribed any medications growing up.
Sticking a wrench in the cognitive and emotional development of a child can have devastating effects, and it is not the answer. If you want to form your own opinion, you can watch the episode for free online at: www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/medicatedchild/.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 14
Chris B
posted 1/28/08 @ 1:09 AM CST
Yep, unfortunately, I have to deal with this at work all the time. I see people come into our pharmacy for this, that, and the other thing. Some kids (most of them on welfare, so we're paying for it) are taking liquid Fluoxetine (Prozac) and ADHD medication ie. (Continued…)
Tracy
posted 1/28/08 @ 10:04 AM CST
Dear Mr. Browning,
You said, "Children and teenagers should not be on strong medications at an early age."
So I guess all chemotherapy for children with cancer should be stopped immediately? After all the side effects are drastic. (Continued…)
Shari D
posted 2/01/08 @ 10:03 AM CST
We adopted a baby girl, and at age 2 years she was acting different . I don't know what I exactly mean by different, but I knew something wasn't right because she was my 9th adopted child. (Continued…)
Joanne A.
posted 2/02/08 @ 7:51 PM CST
I am a teacher. Sometimes, children need medication to focus enough to learn. In school, we have seen cases where the students cannot pay attention, cannot focus, and fall farther and farther behind their peers. (Continued…)
Doreen D
posted 2/07/08 @ 8:01 AM CST
I have a child who has always had severe anxiety and many other issues I am her parent I live with her and deal with her most of her days and nights no one wants to give her medicine because they dont believe she has any issues. (Continued…)
Mike R
posted 9/27/08 @ 8:45 PM CST
I stayed with my brother and his wife several years ago while going through a rough patch with my wife.
My nephews, who were very young at that time, lived in an unstable situation to say the least. (Continued…)
lynnlee k
posted 11/11/08 @ 12:41 PM CST
At the age of seven i had been experiences such a severe case of depression and anxiaty that i requested to placed in a hopital to help me cope. without the medication i was placed on i would not be here today. (Continued…)
A KID
posted 3/11/09 @ 10:39 PM CST
I agree completely with CHRIS B
I am seventeen years old and am not prescribed any behavior modifying medications.
Many of my friends are. Nearly all of them refuse to take it on weekends because it makes you a different person. (Continued…)
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