Washington Times. Teenagers are taking more mind-altering drugs — but under doctor’s orders.
Drug prescriptions meant to counter depression, anxiety and mood or attention disorders in teens increased by 250 percent between 1994 and 2001, according to a Brandeis University study released yesterday.
“There is an alarming increase in prescribing these drugs to teens,” said lead author Cindy Parks Thomas, who tracks prescription drug trends for the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at the university.
Teenage boys are particularly targeted: one out of every 10 who visits the doctor leaves with a prescription to treat a mental condition. The study also found that overall, up to a quarter of the office visits which yielded a prescription “did not have an associated mental health diagnosis,” according to Ms. Thomas.
Ready prescriptions are on the rise “despite the fact that few psychotropic drugs, typically prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression and other mood disorders, are approved for use in children under 18,” the study stated.
“The dramatic increase in prescribing of psychotropic medications is of considerable concern … because these medications are not without risks,” Ms. Thomas observed.
