Spring Break
We are over-medicating children
Andrew Browning
Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: Opinion
According to an episode of Frontline on PBS called "The Medicated Child," more than one million children have now been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The episode's research shows that over a 10-year period, there was a staggering 4,000 percent increase in the number of diagnoses.
These statistics are so disproportionate I do not view them as a true reflection of the disorder. Many of these children, along with having the diagnosis of bipolar, are also labeled with learning disorders and various anxiety and social disorders. The solution for many doctors and families is medication. So much medication in fact, there are children who may be taking eight or more medications to try and solve their problems. One pill causes a side effect that only goes away with another pill, and this cycle goes on until things get out of hand.
Children and teenagers should not be on strong medications at an early age. We do not yet know what the long-term side effects are, and unless the diagnosis is correct, which doesn't seem to be the case, we could be doing incredible harm to the development of our children.
"The Medicated Child" raises a few fundamental questions that our society must find answers to. For example, what ever happened to children being children? Is our lifestyle causing the dramatic increase in the diagnosis of bipolar and related disorders, or is it an overbearing culture of hypochondriacs that needs answers to why their children are behaving "abnormally"? Are medications really improving children's daily lives or just making the parents feel better about the situation? Most importantly, is the risk worth the reward?
I understand that medications can be beneficial for some children if the diagnosis is correct, but drugs are being over-prescribed at an astonishing rate and it is not the best answer.
Americans are always looking for simple solutions to their problems. It is so much easier to hand your child a pill and say, "OK, now you are going to get better and be normal. Act the way you are supposed to." It is too bad it does not always work that way. I am sure to some of you my opinion will not seem that credible because I do not have children of my own.
These statistics are so disproportionate I do not view them as a true reflection of the disorder. Many of these children, along with having the diagnosis of bipolar, are also labeled with learning disorders and various anxiety and social disorders. The solution for many doctors and families is medication. So much medication in fact, there are children who may be taking eight or more medications to try and solve their problems. One pill causes a side effect that only goes away with another pill, and this cycle goes on until things get out of hand.
Children and teenagers should not be on strong medications at an early age. We do not yet know what the long-term side effects are, and unless the diagnosis is correct, which doesn't seem to be the case, we could be doing incredible harm to the development of our children.
"The Medicated Child" raises a few fundamental questions that our society must find answers to. For example, what ever happened to children being children? Is our lifestyle causing the dramatic increase in the diagnosis of bipolar and related disorders, or is it an overbearing culture of hypochondriacs that needs answers to why their children are behaving "abnormally"? Are medications really improving children's daily lives or just making the parents feel better about the situation? Most importantly, is the risk worth the reward?
I understand that medications can be beneficial for some children if the diagnosis is correct, but drugs are being over-prescribed at an astonishing rate and it is not the best answer.
Americans are always looking for simple solutions to their problems. It is so much easier to hand your child a pill and say, "OK, now you are going to get better and be normal. Act the way you are supposed to." It is too bad it does not always work that way. I am sure to some of you my opinion will not seem that credible because I do not have children of my own.
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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