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PublicSource conducted a special investigation into the psychiatric medications prescribed to youth offenders at the state’s six juvenile correctional facilities over seven years.
From 2007 through 2013, antipsychotics and other psychiatric drugs were purchased for delinquents ages 12 to 20 at high rates.
Experts in psychiatry and juvenile justice say it’s likely that the antipsychotics aren’t being prescribed for their approved uses of treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
The powerful, and risky, medications can be used to sedate and control the behavior of problem kids.
PublicSource’s investigation focuses on the state-operated system of six youth development centers and forestry camps. They are the facilities that take the most chronic or violent offenders, except for those charged as adults.
Juvenile justice experts described to a panel of lawmakers Friday the potential dangers pyschotropic medications pose to vulnerable youth.
They didn’t stop at explaining the problem either.
With a dozen lawmakers in one room for the third-annual Children & Youth Disability & Mental Health Summit, they made pleas for additional funding, data collection and transparency.
