Posted on 12/12/2009 5:07:16 PM PST by neverdem
New federally financed drug research reveals a stark disparity: children covered by Medicaid are given powerful antipsychotic medicines at a rate four times higher than children whose parents have private insurance. And the Medicaid children are more likely to receive the drugs for less severe conditions than their middle-class counterparts, the data shows...
--snip--
The F.D.A. has approved antipsychotic drugs for children specifically to treat schizophrenia, autism and bipolar disorder. But they are more frequently prescribed to children for other, less extreme conditions, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, aggression, persistent defiance or other so-called conduct disorders especially when the children are covered by Medicaid, the new study shows.
Although doctors may legally prescribe the drugs for these off label uses, there have been no long-term studies of their effects when used for such conditions.
The Rutgers-Columbia study found that Medicaid children were more likely than those with private insurance to be given the drugs for off-label uses like A.D.H.D. and conduct disorders. The privately insured children, in turn, were more likely than their Medicaid counterparts to receive the drugs for F.D.A.-approved uses like bipolar disorder.
Even if parents enrolled in Medicaid may be reluctant to put their children on drugs, some come to rely on them as the only thing that helps.
They say its impossible to stop now, Evelyn Torres, 48, of the Bronx, said of her sons use of antipsychotics since he received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder at age 3. Seven years later, the boy is now also afflicted with weight and heart problems. But Ms. Torres credits Medicaid for making the boys mental and physical conditions manageable. Theyre helping with everything, she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The kids I work with have been taken from their parents for physical abuse and such, so I’m probably not a good source for that kind of information, but you bring up an excellent point. In my opinion, the poorer parents are not only less likely to challenge, they’re quicker to assume their kids have whatever kid’s behavioral issue is currently in the air.
Lots of similarites there in that cult-like behavior, no? ;)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.