Are incarcerated kids turned into drug addicts by the state?

Though the use of antipsychotic drugs on children is believed to carry significant risks even when used properly to treat bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, it’s not uncommon in some states for juveniles in detention to be prescribed antipsychotics simply to counter mood disorders or aggressive behavior, according to an investigation by Youth Today, which covers the juvenile justice system and youth services.

Data on antipsychotic expenditures and individual diagnoses show that for juvenile detention facilities in Connecticut, Louisiana, New York, Texas and West Virginia, 70 percent of prescriptions were filled for conditions other than bipolar disorder and schizophrenia the disorders for which these drugs generally are FDA-approved. Doctors can still prescribe the drugs for off-label uses or to treat conditions for which they have not been approved.

Most states, when surveyed, either could not or would not demonstrate that they were even monitoring the use of these drugs on incarcerated juveniles, Youth Today reported. Of the 34 states that provided no answers when queried, 16 refused to answer.


Link:
http://www.propublica.org/blog/item/in-some-states-incarcerated-kids-get-drugged-to-alter-behavior-despite-risk