" As to the specific numbers of little children in Florida who were prescribed antipsychotic drugs, Miller reports that 389 children under age 5 (who receive Medicaid) were administered antipsychotic drugs in 2000; more shocking was the fact that 46-two-year-olds were given antipsychotic drugs, along with 67-three-year-olds. The side effects for little children given antipsychotic drugs include "lethargy, agitation, tremors," and the development "of unusually large breasts. One little boy began to produce "breast milk," Miller explains.

Conclusion

Although many of the improper prescriptions for children that were mentioned in this paper have now been halted in Florida, or at least are more carefully scrutinized by public healthcare professionals, it makes one wonder if in fact the doctors who prescribed dangerous antipsychotic drugs for children were getting some form of a kickback from the pharmaceutical companies. Or, were they just too busy or too lazy to actually provide medical care for the children? So instead, those doctors kept children locked in "chemical restraints" to calm them down?

And further, so much attention is given these days to political corruption, terrorism, the unending violence in Iraq and elsewhere, that the major market media is not reporting on real health concerns of real, average Americans. For example, the Food and Drug Administration is reporting (FDA 2006) that "antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior...in short-term studies in children and adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder and other psychiatric disorders." How many teenagers today...

And moreover, when it comes to the abuse of prescription drugs in America, somebody should begin paying closer attention to the problems, and begin working out solutions. Recently, the Democratic Party scored big election victories against incumbent Republicans; indeed, the Democrats now control the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. If they are truly interesting in making things better in America, for average middle class people, they will take action on issues like prescription drug abuse, along with other serious healthcare concerns.
Works Cited

Miller, Carol Marbin. "Advocates Alarmed by Drugs Used for Kids." The Miami Herald. Retrieved 21 Nov. 2006 at http://www.vachss.com/help_text/styles/archive-print.php.

Miller, Carol Marbin. "Advocates Criticize Medicating Foster Kids." The Miami Herald. Retrieved 21 Nov. 2006 at http://www.vachss.com/help_text/styles/archive-print.php.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. "Research Report Series - Prescription Drugs: Abuse and Addiction. Trends in Prescription drug abuse." Retrieved 22 Nov. 2006 at http://www.nida.nih.gov/researchreports/prescription/prescription5.html.

O'Brien, Soledad. "Expert: Good medicine meets bad behavior." Cable News Network. Retrieved 22 Nov. 2006 at http://www.cnn.com/2006/health/05/16/cnna.passierb/index.html.

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. "Federal Report Shows New

Nonmedical Users of Prescriptions Pain Relievers Outnumbered New Marijuana Users

Between 2002 and 2004." U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 22 Nov. 2006 at http://www.samhsa.gov/news/newsreleases/061027_painrelievers.htm.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Suicidality in Children and Adolescents" Retrieved 21 Nov. 2006 at http://www.fda.gov.