In the wake of the tragic death of Rebecca Riley here in Massachusetts (which this blog covered here), the state Medicaid program has wisely—albeit belatedly—established an “early warning system” to red-flag cases in which young children may possibly be over-medicated with psychiatric drugs. From the Boston Globe:
Mass. tracks children on psychiatric drugs
Following the death of a 4-year-old Hull girl from an overdose of psychiatric drugs last December, state officials have set up a unique early-warning system to spot preschoolers who may be getting excessive medication for mental illness. In just the first three months, the system has flagged the cases of at least 35 children for further investigation, and the number is sure to rise.
The state Medicaid program is analyzing records of 82,900 children under age 5, looking for those taking at least three psychiatric drugs or a single prescription of a powerful antipsychotic drug. Mental health professionals will review the care of these children and, if necessary, contact the prescribing doctor for an explanation, say officials of the state insurance program for lower-income families, known as MassHealth.
Although cases like the overdose of Rebecca Riley are rare, the prescription of psychiatric drugs to young children is not. Doctors last year prescribed Clonidine – a drug sometimes used to treat hyperactivity that was found in lethal quantities in the Hull girl’s bloodstream – to 955 children under age 7 in MassHealth. Doctors also prescribed antipsychotic drugs, which raise the risk of diabetes and obesity, to 536 children under age 7, according to MassHealth records. MassHealth could not say how many of these cases involve children under age 5 and might be subject to review.
Some psychiatrists have been concerned for years about the rise of psychiatric drug treatment of young children, largely because few preschoolers are old enough to show clear signs of mental illness and there are almost no studies on how the chemicals affect their developing brains. But until Riley’s death from three drugs she was taking to treat bipolar disorder and hyperactivity, the state provided little oversight of doctors’ prescribing practices.
Riley’s death “was a wake up call,” said Dr. John Straus, vice president for medical affairs at the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership, one of the organizations that manage mental health care for children in MassHealth. He said MassHealth managers want to make sure that doctors have good reason for prescribing psychiatric drugs to such young patients and that they are not relying solely on the parents or guardians for information about each child’s condition. Riley’s parents have been charged with deliberately giving her a fatal overdose.
“If the behavior is extreme enough to require this level of medication, we ought to make sure that the behavior exists,” said Straus, by checking with day-care providers and other independent observers. [full text]
Kmareka.com 
That is excellent news, though the stats are still pretty horrifying. Perhaps if the Massachusetts program reveals significant problems, such reviews could take place nationwide. Unfettered psychiatry certainly abounds.
That would be a good idea — to take a look at how much medicating of the little ones is going on across the country.
Kaching $$$$, Big Pharma is really cashing in along with the Pharma Lobbists. Don’t count on any drastic breakthroughs anytime soon ~ Autism, Altzheimer’s and other children’s neurological issues have reached epidemic proportion (1 in 150 with Autism). I was sick when I read about that 4 year old, but today I know so many parents that medicate or feed their kids chemicals in lunchables and whatever is the quickest method because we are short on time to try alternatives. I symphathize with the parents of these children with issues but we need to question our doctors decisions and … research, research research. It really is shameful that our children have become such an open market to cash in on. My daycare provider thought my child should be medicated at 3 and again at 4. He’s 5 and perfect ~ just is an abstract thinker with a Duracel Battery that gives him great energy. I don’t regret not putting him on drugs, although the 2 years was quite gut wrenching and I share my experiences with other mothers in delima … some have thanked me for sharing and making them feel their gut instincts told them to keep the faith for an alternate cure. I’m not saying I think obstaining in all circumstances is the answer, but far too many toddlers and children are directed to medication.
Big Pharma’s widespread encouragement of off-label use of psychotropic drugs on children needs to legislatively banned! It’s difficult to comprehend how responsible physicians can go along with such stupidity.
Rebecca Riley is typical of the children my colleagues and I have been helping for the past 31 years. We are a part of the non-profit Feingold Association, that shows families how to find the food they love, minus the harmful additives that can trigger the sort of behavior issues she had.
Now that the new study from Southampton University in England has shown that petroleum derivatives like food dyes can trigger hyperactivity and attention problems in all kids, the Mass folks would do well to rethink their assumptions that these kids need even more chemicals (drugs).
The study was published on Sept 6 in The Lancet. Go to http://www.feingold.org for details.
Thank you Jane Hersey – I am going to call and order the book and program tomorrow. I have a 4 year old that is out of control at school and I remember the first and only time when she was under 2 and had red jello – the areas on her face that the red jello touched turned beat red and puffy. I never gave her that again. But, i never connected the dots. My son is 5 and has always suffered off and on with headaches (which she is now starting to communicate). At 2 1/2 and again at 4 I was told my son had something neurological wrong with him like ADHD or something. I went through agony for those 3 years and he is adjusted (pretty much) as a Duracel child. I so connected with the Feingold book with some of the other parents. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to reading what I can do. Please be sure to write to legislators and demand change with Petitioning, which I hope you will remember to share as well. It makes sense, I am eager to receive the book – thank you!