Children in care drugged

[freediver]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 01,00.html

ONE in four children who have been removed from the care of their parents and placed in foster homes are being heavily medicated to control their emotions and behaviour.

And 50 per cent of children under 12 who live in residential care - where children live in small groups under the supervision of social workers - are taking a psychotropic medication.

According to the annual report of the NSW Children's Guardian, 44 per cent of Aboriginal children in residential care are also medicated on drugs such as Ritalin, Strattera and Zoloft.

By comparison, the proportion of children nationwide on psychotropic medication is less than 2 per cent.

The president of the NSW Foster Care Association, Denise Crisp, said it was a nationwide problem.

"We call it the chemical straitjacket," she said. "The problem is if a foster carer has four kids and they have all got behavioural problems, how are you going to control them?

"The only way to do it is with drugs.

[boxy]

Not surprising, really. Unless you're willing to pay for one on one care for troubled kids who are wards of the state, there is little option but to try to control their emotional problems via medication. The alternative is to physically restrain them, I guess.

[Auzgurl]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 01,00.html

ONE in four children who have been removed from the care of their parents and placed in foster homes are being heavily medicated to control their emotions and behaviour.

And 50 per cent of children under 12 who live in residential care - where children live in small groups under the supervision of social workers - are taking a psychotropic medication.

According to the annual report of the NSW Children's Guardian, 44 per cent of Aboriginal children in residential care are also medicated on drugs such as Ritalin, Strattera and Zoloft.

By comparison, the proportion of children nationwide on psychotropic medication is less than 2 per cent.

The president of the NSW Foster Care Association, Denise Crisp, said it was a nationwide problem.

"We call it the chemical straitjacket," she said. "The problem is if a foster carer has four kids and they have all got behavioural problems, how are you going to control them?

"The only way to do it is with drugs.

Was shocked to read that FD..but not surprised.

Its a very tough problem..but nothing will happen to make it better for these kids. As with all reports such as this designed to sensationalise and shock.. will amount to nothing but tomorrows fish and chip wrapper..Govts dont really care.

[freediver]

Surely they don't use newspapers? Ink on your fingertips is bad enough. I don't want it on my chips too. Something has to be done.

[White Indigene]

http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica. ... dents.html

If something is to be done, it ought be done well. Getting rid of the Rudd/Labor socialist road show might help.

[mantra.]

These poor little kids in foster care, are not only drugged, but not receiving the care they desperately need. Australia wide there are approximately 70 private foster agencies who act for DOCS in placing kids in private homes. The State government pays the agency approx. $6,000 a placement and some of these homes are caring for up to 8 children at a time. No matter what emotional or physical condition they have they are all thrown in together - so it's easier to drug them into submissiveness. The government pays the carers up to $550 a fortnight tax free - so multiply that by 6, 7 or 8 and you've got a good little business going.

Drugging seems to be the only way to control kids these days if statistics are anything to go by and not just those in foster care or group homes. Parents are actually putting their babies and toddlers on anti-depressants as well.

Unpublished figures show that nearly 4,000 children under the age of 10 were prescribed antidepressants last year, including 553 children under five and 48 babies, even though no antidepressant is approved in Australia for the treatment of depression in children and adolescents, The Australian reports.

“At first pass, it is beyond comprehension that more than 500 Australian children - aged one to five years - have received an antidepressant drug,” Gordon Parker, executive director of the Black Dog Institute, a non-profit devoted to education about depression and bipolar disorder, tells the paper. “When the particular drugs are considered, the risk of significant side effects - let alone their efficacy - is of key concern. It strikes me that there would be wisdom in having the doctors justify such prescriptions to determine whether there are any justifiable reasons for such surprising data.”

http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/12/babies ... own-under/

[freediver]

500 children - what percentage is that?

Of course, in the old days they just gave them a teaspoon of brandy and sent them to bed. I recently saw an infant medicated with wine.

[mantra.]

500 children - what percentage is that?

I've got no idea - but those figures represent children under 5, which is still 553 too many being given a potent drug which even affects many adults seriously.

Of course, in the old days they just gave them a teaspoon of brandy and sent them to bed. I recently saw an infant medicated with wine.

The teaspoon of brandy wouldn't have been as dangerous physically, although it possibly encouraged alcoholism in the long term.

[Auzgurl]

Mantra-

Drugging seems to be the only way to control kids these days if statistics are anything to go by and not just those in foster care or group homes. Parents are actually putting their babies and toddlers on anti-depressants as well.

I thank my lucky stars I have never experienced these problems with mine. I think tho' from those I hear of who do..that it seems prior ro the birth of a lot of these children the parent themselves were on drugs or came from parents who abused drugs. It seems to be a vicious circle.

Drug problems start early and usually of a prescriptive nature and progress later on to street drugs or alcohol.

[freediver]

I suspect if it is 500 children under five - that's only 100 in each year group - then chances are there is a genuine medical need. This is not a case of mass medication like with Ritalin.