Too Much Drugs

Foster Children are being overmedicated with antipsychotic drugs that they may not need. There are concerns surrounding the use of powerful drugs in children on Medicaid. One problem is that the side effects of the drugs on younger children is not known. There has not been a lot of research done because these drugs cannot be tested on children. The reports focus on the prescription medications called second-generation antipsychotics. Five of the drugs that have been approved by the FDA for the use in children to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and irritability associated with autism. In many cases, they are being given inappropriately. Doctors found quality of care concerns in 67% of the cases they looked at. Children on these powerful drugs were not being monitored adequately. A quarter of children were given the wrong dose and many others were given too many drugs or took them for too long. Experts say that not enough resources are directed at taking care of these kids and giving them the therapies and treatments that they need that do not include drugs. One of the main issues is money. It is cheaper to put children on drugs than it is to hire therapists, so drugs are being given out as a replacement. Doctors say they try to give foster children drugs to contain their behaviors so they do not have to be bounced from foster home to foster home. Many states are working to reduce the use of drugs in foster children, but many more steps need to be taken, along with greater oversight of the system.