Over Medication of Prescription Drugs in Children Adolescents Free Essays

This study examines the pervasive state of mental illness and the overmedication of prescription drugs on children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 18 years of age, here in America. It has been predicted that the lack of studies on the medicated child has not been able to determine the overall long term effects that it might have on the participants involved. However, community supported programs such as Blended Case Management have become the cornerstone to managing and providing supportive   care for the client and the families that suffer from the diagnosis of DSM IV or AXIS 1 classifications. We will write a custom essay sample on Over Medication of Prescription Drugs in Children Adolescents or any similar topic only for you Order Now Across the Atlantic the World Heath Organizations international mental health policies and programs are securely in place to ensure that everyone big or small is provided adequate care when dealing with the mental health in poverty stricken communities.The Current State of Mental Health the Medicated Child Mental Illness in children and adolescents is one of the most pervasive illnesses’ that is sweeping the American landscape. Every day a child is diagnosed under the classification of the DSM – IV or Axis I – R Diagnosis. DSM – IV or Axis I – R diagnosis is the criteria for which patients seek treatment for the following disorders that includes bi-polar disorders, schizophrenia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, and Mood Disorders.Early diagnosis and treatment with psychotropic drugs has increased in children from the ages of 5 – 18 years of age. Prescription drugs in children still remain virtually untested for long term serious side effects on the growth of children. Overzealous doctors and the pharmaceutical companies play a decisive role in the treatment of these illnesses. Currently there are over one million children that are being treated for mental disorders in the United States alone (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2008).Many questions still remain pertaining to the overall remedy of such a deliberate action. Are children receiving the proper diagnosis and treatment for their illness? The diagnosis and behavior modification drugs for treating a variety of illnesses in children has been an ongoing debate among parents, doctors and the Federal Drug Administration for the past decade. How much is too much and when do you stop? No one seems to know the answers.Children are in a constant state of flux. Once a child is diagnosed with a mental illness various medications are prescribed to maintain the psychiatric symptoms and disorders, and they can include anything from bedwetting, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression disorder, eating disorder, bipolar disorder formerly manic-depressive, psychosis, autism, severe aggression, and sleep problems (CABL, 2005). The types of medication that are used in treating these psychoses are stimulant medications, Antidepressant medications, antipsychotic medications, mood stabilizers, and anticonvulsant medications. One of the most prevalent illnesses in recent years that deserve a notable mention is the rise of Autism. Autism is the most common condition in a group of developmental disorders known as the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Autism is generally characterized by impaired social interactions problems with verbal and non verbal communication, and unusual, repetitive or severely limited activities in interests.No one knows what causes autisms; some have said that it is due to the inoculation of vaccinations in the early development of the child which in turn throws off the natural development of our children, thus creating symptoms that lead to Autism. Experts have estimated that three to six children out of every 1000 will have autism. Males are also more likely than females to have autism (Autism-Society, 2008). Recently the United States Court of Federal Claims began to conduct hearings on whether to decide if vaccination’s additive led to thousands of children to become autistic (New York Times, May 2008).The courts are in the process of deciding if the government should pay millions to the families of sick children. Parents are insisting that thimerosal, a preservative that contains mercury have severely affected their children’s cognitive abilities, which the government and scientist have vehemently denied. Medical records indicate that all of the children involved were developmentally sound before the vaccines began. This case and others including vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella are still pending. The treatment of Autism like any other developmental disorder has become somewhat of a learning experience for everyone involved.Doctor’s often prescribe anti-depressant medications to handle symptoms of anxiety, depression, or obsessive compulsive disorder. Anti – psychotic medications are used to treat severe behavioral problems. Seizures can be treated with one or more of the anticonvulsant drugs. Stimulant drugs are also used to help control impulsivity and hyperactivity (Hersen, 1998). Nevertheless, the long terms affects of these drugs are not well documented. We have a lot to learn about this disease and the debilitating effects there of. Child and Family Support Care ProgramsPrograms that are nestled in the community such as St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital’s Blended Case Management Program in New York City, New York, give children hope in increasing stability in the home while carefully managing their disease. Support groups and training for patients and families have become essential in managing these possibly debilitating illnesses. Blended Case Management which is an affiliate of New York City Children’s Single Point of Access (CSPOA) at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Psychiatric Division, conveniently located in Manhattan, New York. I had the esteemed honor of meeting with Ms.Erin Atkinson who works as an Intensive Case Manager, who also, for the past six years has worked under the umbrella of The Child and Family Institute which includes the Blended Case Management Team. Over the past several years of her employment, she has counseled a number of patients that have been diagnosed as Axis I – R Diagnosis. Axis I – R Diagnosis is the criteria for which patients seek treatment for a variety of mental illnesses and disorders, which includes Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Bi-Polar Disorder (Manic Depressive), Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Cond uct Disorder and Mood Disorders which ncludes schizophrenia and depression. Blended Case Management is specifically designed and geared towards children. Her clients range in the age of five to eighteen years of age. The two main services that Blended Case Management provides to their patients are crisis counseling and advocacy. One of Ms. Atkinson’s key roles is to increase stability in order for the patient to remain in the community instead of psychiatric hospitalization and residential placement.Keeping the client in the home and providing therapy in spite of Axis I – R Diagnosis is imperative for the programs focus agenda to be and remain successful (E. Atkinson [personnel communications] February 26, 2008) . The Blended Case Management team works in unison to insure the best possible care for their clients. Strong advocacy skills have become the cornerstone of intensive case management strategy when providing the best possible out patient medical care programs for their clients. On many occasions over the course of Ms. Atkinson’s employment the rate of success has been phenomenal.However, it is important for us to understand that now more than ever children are being diagnosed with severe mental disorders at a very early age. We have been so concerned with medicating the child that we forget that families are affected as well. One of the great things about Blended Case Management is that the families are included as a part of the patients counseling and advisement regiment. Families learn coping skills that are essential to be able to manage the stress of a family member who has been diagnosed with Axis I – R Diagnosis.Education through family counseling is an essential and necessary component for the patients overall mental health and stability. Through my continued research on mental health disorders in children, I have come to understand the pitfalls by which being diagnosed with an illnesses such as Axis I R Diagnosis can be devastating for a young child to live and mange on a daily basis successfully. However, with programs like Blended Case Management in our communities, children will have the opportunity to live beyond the stigma of being classified with a debilitating mental disorder.International Programs and Policies Organizations such as the World Health Organization have extensive programs that are available for the strengthening of mental health promotion for adults and children alike. Countries such as England, France, Ghana, Gambi a, Zambia, Uganda, South Africa, Lesotho, Mexico and Peru have adopted several polices that are mandatory interventions that are developed by the World Heath Organizations for the emotional stability for poor populations. However, there are no mental laws in 25% of countries covering 65% of the world’s population. While 91% of European countries do have a law on mental health, only 57% of Eastern Mediterranean counties do. Mental health legislation covers legal provisions for the protection of the basic human and civil rights of people with metal disorders. Early childhood interventions combined with nutritional and psycho-social support in disadvantaged populations are essential for the communities and families to thrive under dire circumstances. Support for children such as skills building and youth development are nestled in major cities throughout third world countries.These facilities enable children and families to seek treatment which would have not been available before to the populace at large. Even though they are not as extensive and far reaching as American medical facilities, they are effective nevertheless. Everyday there are services that treat children and adults that are diagnosed mental illness. One program that has made a noticeable difference to there country is the Mental Health and Poverty Project which takes place in South Africa, Ghana, Zambia and Uganda.This program is designed to develop, implement and evaluate mental health policies in poor countries, in order to provide new knowledge regarding the approaches to comprehensive medical management, while breaking the cycle of poverty and mental ill health through out the population (World Health Organization, 2007). One of the things that are not mentioned in the international reports are the demographics and statistics of mental illness among children and adolescents or the frequent use of medication or how pervasive prescriptions drugs are used within certain sectors of the population.Nevertheless, there is hope; programs that are guided by the World Health Organization, guidelines which have been set in motion for the overall health and development of families that are effect by mental illness. Conclusion Never in all of my years of conducting research about any one particular topic have I found that the mental health and the over medicating of our children to be at such alarming rate of exposure here in this country.The lack of research on long term exposure of various medications of drugs and the after effects are still unknown but many continue to suffer at the expense of overzealous pharmaceutical companies and unknowing eager parents. We must begin to set a regulation of standards that would apply to every child that is labeled with a DSM – IV or AXIS 1 diagnosis. Long term stuffy of effects of these drugs must begin now. Only then can we begin to help our children more effectively when it comes to medicating our children when diagnosed with an illness.One of the things that I have continued to discover is that the prevalence of drugs in children that are prescribed by doctors are only effected with in the western culture of society. European, African and Asian societies and its usage of drugs are not at the level that it is here in the western world. Programs such as the Mental Health and Poverty Project that are established in African countries which include Zambia, Uganda, South Africa and ? , set models on how to combat the pervasive scope of mental illness through combating poverty at the same time.They believe through intricate steps of care of dealing with the issues of survival and poverty eliminates the long term effects of what metal illness could bring, which includes the prolonged use of medications which the average family can no t afford. Through family, community, and society, and government roles all play a factor in the striving and survival of the overall family dynamic. How to cite Over Medication of Prescription Drugs in Children Adolescents, Papers