House won’t make it harder for state to put foster kids on psych drugs
by Dara Kam | February 9th, 2012Sen. Ronda Storms’ bill that would make it harder for doctors to put foster kids on mind-altering drugs passed another milestone in the Senate today, but its future is bleak.
The Senate Health Regulation Committee unanimously approved Storms’ measure (SB 1808) and sent it on its way to its final committee this afternoon. But the House has yet to hear a similar proposal and, with the 2012 session midpoint approaching, appears unlikely to budge.
“The House is killing it,” Storms, R-Valrico, said. “It’s a source of extraordinary frustration and a disservice to the children of Florida.”
Storms’ launched her psychotropic drug crusade after the 2009 death of 7-year-old Gabriel Myers, a Broward County foster child who hanged himself while under the influence of several psychiatric drugs. Storms’ bill includes many of the recommendations given by a Department of Children and Families workgroup in the aftermath of Myers’ death.
A 2008 Congressional report found that children in foster care in Florida were far more likely to be on mind-altering drugs than children in the general population. With 12 percent of the state’s foster children 17 and younger on at least one psychotropic medication, a drop of 10 percent three years ago, DCF officials say they have improved protocols for monitoring foster kids’ prescription drug use.
Tags: Florida House, Florida Senate, psychotropic medications, Ronda Storms
February 9th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
There have not been enough children who have died yet from these drugs. The drug companies are loving that the government pays for these drugs. Let’s just make the disadvantaged kids a little more dependent on the government dole…..get them hooked on psych meds.
February 10th, 2012 at 8:51 am
I am the grandparent given custody of a biological grandchild lost to our family after being kidnapped by her biological father years ago. This foster child had 23 various diagnoses and was on 17 psychtropic drugs. She was also locked away in a psychiatric/therapuetic facility. We fought endlessly with a plethora of workers and finally refused all drugs even though they demanded we do so. Today she is in junior college with no diagnosis of anything wrong with her. Her reading level went from 1st grade to 6 grade within 6 months after quiting the mind stewing drugs. The biggest problems in this kid’s life is what the ridiculous foster system continues to do to her.
February 10th, 2012 at 10:36 am
Parents put their own children on drugs to manage their behavior, emotions.
Druggers come in all shapes and sizes and relationships.
February 11th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Want to learn more about efforts to reduce drugging of foster kids? Send your e-mail address to: eopton[at]comcast.net