Investigates the increasing number of children using Ritalin, a
psychotropic or mind-altering drug, in the United States (U.S>) and
its side effects. Budget of the U.S. government for the potentially
dangerous effects of the drug; Comments from first lady Hillary Rodham
Clinton.
By
Peter Carter, published on July 01, 2000
DRUGS
In our last issue, PSYCHOLOGY TODAY reported on the growing number
of parents giving otherwise normal children Ritalin to boost them
academically. Now, in light of shocking new statistics about this
expanding phenomenon, the White House is intervening.
According to the February issue of The Journal of the American
Medical Association, the number of children ages 2 through 4 taking
psychotropic, or mind-altering, drugs increased by 200% to 300% between
1991 and 1995. But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to
approve these drugs for children under 6, and many are taking them
without proper diagnosis.
Concerned by the drugs' potentially dangerous effects, the White
House allocated more than $5 million to the National Institute of Mental
Health (NIMH) to research psychotropic drug use in younger children. The
NIMH will also work with the U.S. Department of Education to make
information on alternative treatments available, and the FDA is beginning
research on new pediatric dosage information for drug labels.
"We are not here to bash the use of these medications," first lady
Hillary Rodham Clinton said at a press conference, "but some of these
young people have problems that are symptoms of nothing more than
childhood or adolescence.
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