Children with behavioral problems could no longer be forced to
take medication as a prerequisite for attending class if a bill
passed today by the House of Representatives becomes law. Schools
that didn't fall in line would lose federal education funds, reports
the Associated Press.
Supporters of such a ban say no one knows how widespread the
practice is. In recent decades, however, the number of children
diagnosed with attention deficit or hyperactivity disorders has
grown, as has the number of children treated for such disorders with
psychotropic drugs, like Ritalin (news -
web sites) or Adderall.
Some parents and physicians question the safety of psychotropic
drugs, and the Child Medication Safety Act, as the bill is known,
aims to prevent parents from having to choose between safety
concerns and schooling. The bill also calls for a congressional
investigation into the use of psychotropic drugs in schools.
The bill, approved 425-1, makes clear that the school can consult
parents about whether psychotropic drugs for such conditions as
attention deficit disorder or attention deficit-hyperactivity
disorder could benefit a child, but they are not allowed to require
it.
Sponsored by Georgia Republican Max Burns, the bill also states
that decisions about drugs should be made by doctors, not teachers
and administrators. ADD can be confused with other emotional or
learning problems.
The bill would apply to psychotropic drugs covered by the
Controlled Substances Act, such at Ritalin. The Senate has not acted
on similar legislation.
An increasing number of children have been prescribed drugs for
ADD and other conditions, stirring concern about whether doctors,
parents, insurers and schools were too quick to turn to pills to
solve childhood problems.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House passed a bill on Wednesday
that would block schools from ordering troublesome students to take
mood-altering drugs as a condition of attending class.
The bill, approved 425-1, makes clear that the school can consult
parents about whether psychotropic drugs for such conditions as
attention deficit disorder or attention deficit-hyperactivity
disorder could benefit a child, but they are not allowed to require
it.
Sponsored by Georgia Republican Max Burns, the bill also states
that decisions about drugs should be made by doctors, not teachers
and administrators. ADD can be confused with other emotional or
learning problems.
The bill would apply to psychotropic drugs covered by the
Controlled Substances Act, such at Ritalin (news -
web sites). The Senate has not
acted on similar legislation.
An increasing number of children have been prescribed drugs for
ADD and other conditions, stirring concern about whether doctors,
parents, insurers and schools were too quick to turn to pills to
solve childhood problems.
U.S.
Moves to Ban Forced Medicating by Schools
Children with behavioral problems could no longer be forced to
take medication as a prerequisite for attending class if a bill
passed today by the House of Representatives becomes law. Schools
that didn't fall in line would lose federal education funds, reports
the Associated Press.
Supporters of such a ban say no one knows how widespread the
practice is. In recent decades, however, the number of children
diagnosed with attention deficit or hyperactivity disorders has
grown, as has the number of children treated for such disorders with
psychotropic drugs, like Ritalin (news -
web sites) or Adderall.
Some parents and physicians question the safety of psychotropic
drugs, and the Child Medication Safety Act, as the bill is known,
aims to prevent parents from having to choose between safety
concerns and schooling. The bill also calls for a congressional
investigation into the use of psychotropic drugs in schools.