Low-income and foster children have recently been the topic of much debate in California. As of late, the Golden State has actively been denying requests from doctors to medicate the aforementioned group.
Since last October, the rate of denials have increased three times, thus bringing the amount of anti-psychotics being written, down from 16,915 to 6,950. The state is now requiring additional information when approving said drugs; thus, leading to the denial of about 18% of the requests.
The recent increase in precautions being taken, comes in the wake of an investigation being completed by the San Jose mercury News, during which they brought to light the fact that almost 62% of foster children in California had been prescribed anti-psychotic medications. Not only that, but almost 4,000 children were prescribed in the year 2014 alone.
Issues associated with prescribing children at such a young age; include: obesity, diabetes, and even the development of uncontrollable tremors. Because of this, the National Center for Youth Law is making the movement to better educate caregivers on how to work with children, without giving them these medications; along with revolutionizing the type of alternative treatments offered.
However, the recent increase in denials for anti-psychotic requests, does not have the support of everyone. Many physicians strongly disagree with the measures being taken, and attest that the each situation should be assessed on a case by case situation.
According to James Gross (lawyer and lobbyist), the state should withdraw the new requirements due to an absence of “any reasoned, detailed rationale.”