Youth Violence and Drugs

There is a growing concern, as more and more shootings occur in schools, that prescription drugs may be a contributing factor. A profile of the shooters in the major incidents since 1996, shows that at least four of the fourteen shooters were on some kind of mood-altering prescription drug (Prozac, Ritalin, Luvox and possibly others of this same family of anti-depressant drugs). There is a growing body of evidence that these anti-depressant drugs are being prescribed at a rapidly growing rate among school children.

The following links take the reader to articles about this growing trend and resources about the drugs themselves. More information about the disorders for which these drugs are being prescribed, is available by visiting The Medicaid Connection.

Links:

Killer Teens Had Prescription For Murder (Douglas Montero, New York Post)

Doping Our Kids; Prescription Drugs At Root Of Violence, Says Expert (David M Bresnahan, WorldNetDaily)

When Are Americans Going to Stop Drugging Their Children? (Robert Holand, Richmond Times Dispatch)

International Coalition for Drug Awareness

Doping Kids (Kelly Patricia O'Meara, Insight Magazine)

Why Ritalin Rules (Mary Eberstadt, Heritage Foundation)

Kids and Psychiatric Drugs: Quick Fix or Harmful Mix? (Gailon Totheroh, CBNnow)

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