1 in 13 American Schoolchildren Take Psych Meds, Report Finds

[Wesley]

 

The National Center for Health Statistics has found that 7.5 percent of American schoolchildren between the ages of six and 17  had been prescribed and taking pills for emotional or behavioral difficulties.

That is one in every 13 kids.

The study also found that more than half (55 percent) of the parents of the participants said that the medications helped their children “a lot,” while another 26 percent said it helped “some.”

The researchers were  unable to identify the specific medications prescribed to the children, however they did make some discoveries regarding race and gender of the children on these medications.

• Significantly more boys than girls were given medication; about 9.7 percent of boys compared with 5.2 percent of girls.
• Older girls were more likely than younger females to be put on medication.
• White children were the most likely to be on psychiatric medications (9.2 percent), followed by Black children (7.4 percent) and Hispanic children (4.5 percent).
• Children on Medicaid or a Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) were more likely on medication for emotional and behavioral problems (9.9 percent), versus 6.7 percent of kids with private insurance and only 2.7 percent of uninsured children.
• Parents of younger children (between ages 6 and 11) were slightly more likely to feel the medications helped “a lot” compared to those of older children.
• Parents of males were also more likely to feel the medications helped “a lot” — about 58 percent of parents of males reported that they helped “a lot” compared to 50 percent of the parents of females.
• Parents with incomes less than 100 percent of the federal poverty level were the least likely to feel the medications helped “a lot”. Just 43 percent of these parents said the medications helped “a lot”, while about 31 percent said they helped “some”.
• More families living below 100 percent of the federal poverty level had children taking medications for emotional and behavioral problems than those above the federal poverty level.

“We really can’t speculate what factors would account for the difference,” said report author LaJeana Howie, a statistical research scientist at the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics.

http://atlantablackstar.com/2014/04/25/1-13-schoolkids-takes-psych-meds/

[dsayers]

 

 

“We really can’t speculate what factors would account for the difference,” said report author LaJeana Howie, a statistical research scientist at the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics.

 

Luckily, we don't have to speculate. The evidence is clear. I guesses a line such as this was coming when it referred to "emotional or behavioral difficulties" without any nod to what that means or where it comes from.

[pipeline_mike]

you're such an amazingly prolific poster. you ARE the FDR poster-boy. Also, thank you.

[Wesley]

you're such an amazingly prolific poster. you ARE the FDR poster-boy. Also, thank you.

Sorry, what?

[Daniel Unplugged]

Sorry, what?

I think he was referring to dsayers.

[Wesley]

I think he was referring to dsayers.

Ok, the question still stands.

[Daniel Unplugged]

Ok, the question still stands.

It's hard to argue that dsayers is not prolific in his postings, nor that he does not do a good job representing FDR philosophy.