End the Over-Drugging of Foster Kids!

Foster children are prescribed mind-altering psychotropic drugs at nearly five times the rate of non-foster children.

A former foster child's testimony at a recent congressional hearing gives us an "..all-too-clear picture of what it's like to live under the fog of improperly prescribed mind-altering medications," says Senator Tom Carper, who headed the investigation.

Recent GAO and ABC News reports not only show foster children were prescribed these drugs more often than other children, but many were taking 5 or more of these very potent drugs at the same time.

"Medication shouldn't be the first option addressing behavioral or learning issues and it certainly shouldn't be the only one," insists Sheila Matthews of Ablechild.

Tell U.S. DHHS to educate all state agencies about the risks of psychotropic drugs and encourage them to use alternatives.

We, the undersigned, request you take immediate steps to end this targeting of Foster Children and others for the benefit of the pharmaceutical industry.

With the recent GAO report concluding that Foster Children are being prescribed dangerous psychotropic medications at far higher rates than other children, this action is necessary to protect our most vulnerable citizens.

Not only are these psychotropic medications shown to be dangerous to children, but it has been recently reported in the news (NY Review of Books, June & July, 2011) and revealed by researchers like Robert Whitaker,  Peter Breggin, and Grace E Jackson, along with a recent University of Stanford study, that the drugs' long-term use is not beneficial to anyone.  They can do more harm than good, including causing permanent brain damage.

The lack of proven safety is more certain where children are concerned, especially when several of these medications are given in combination.

"Thousands of foster children across the country...are depending on us to fix this deeply flawed policy...." says senator Carper.

We request, along with others, that  you  stand up to big pharmaceutical companies who are pushing these drugs and insist state agencies find better ways to help foster children and others cope.

For more details on the corruption involved in drugging children:

http://www.alternet.org/story/153634/7_reasons_america%27s_mental_health_industry_is_a_threat_to_our_sanity

Thank you for your attention to this serious issue.