Mind Wonk

In Some States, Incarcerated Kids Get Drugged to Alter Behavior, Despite Risks - ProPublica

This article from Marian Wang at ProPublica is a must read. I have to say, though, I think this doesn't happen only in the juvenile justice system, and very often (wherever it happens) children of color are over-represented.

Though the use of antipsychotic drugs on children is believed to carry significant risks [1] even when used properly to treat bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, it’s not uncommon in some states [2] for juveniles in detention to be prescribed antipsychotics simply to counter mood disorders or aggressive behavior, according to an investigation by Youth Today, which covers the juvenile justice system and youth services.

via www.propublica.org

See an article at Youth Today here. Also see my last post for the link to the New York Times article referenced by Wang.

Pfizer: The Drug Giant That Makes Bank from Drugs That Can Kill You | | AlterNet

During one week in June Pfizer 1) agreed to pull its 10-year-old leukemia drug Mylotarg from the market because it caused more, not less patient deaths 2) Suspended pediatric trials of Geodon two months after the FDA said children were being overdosed 3) Suspended trials of tanezumab, an osteoarthritis pain drug, because patients got worse not better, some needing joint replacements (pattern, anyone?) 4) Was investigated by the House for off-label marketing of kidney transplant drug Rapamune and targeting African-Americans 5) Saw a researcher who helped established its Bextra, Celebrex and Lyrica as effective pain meds, Scott S Reuben, MD, trotted off to prison for research fraud 6) was sued by Blue Cross Blue Shield to recoup money it overpaid for Bextra and other drugs 7) received a letter from Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) requesting its whistleblower policy and 8) had its appeal to end lawsuits by Nigerian families who accuse it of illegal trials of the antibiotic Trovan in which 11 children died, rejected by the Supreme Court. And how was your week?

via www.alternet.org

AHRP - Grassley Probe: Pharma Provides 81% of NAMI Income

The $$$ amounts--one might call them, "fees for services rendered"--reveal the truth about who wields the greatest influence on NAMI policies--and whose interests are being served by NAMI. 

For years NAMI (the National Alliance of Mental Illness) refused to dislcose it sources of income. But thanks to Senator Charles Grassley's probe, the dollar amounts--"fees for services rendered," one might call them--reveal the truth about who wields the greatest influence on NAMI policies--and whose interests are being served by NAMI. 

In October, 2009, Sen. Grassley revealed that between 2006--2008 NAMI garnered 3/4 of its income from pharmaceutical companies--$23 million . 

NAMI's wheel of fortune is graphically shown a PharmaMarketingBlog
In 2009,  NAMI's total intake from contributions above $5,000 totaled $4,737,610.00. 
NAMI's cash haul from manufacturers of psychotropic drugs amounted to $3,836,750.00--that's 81% of the intake. 

From Pharmalot we learn that in a letter to NAMI ( April 26, 2010), Sen. Grassley reveals the fact that NAMI state chapters are also "on the take"--heavily financed by key psychotropic drug manufacturers. 

via www.ahrp.org

Mother Guilty of Murder--Pediatric Bipolar Disorder Innocent | Psychology Today

In essence, Kayoko Kifuji, the child psychiatrist who prescribed clonidine to Rebecca, was exonerated with the mother's conviction. Kifuji worked at the Tufts New England Medical Center. She also prescribed two other medications to Rebecca used frequently in children's psychiatric problems, Seroquel, approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating schizophrenia and Depakote, studied and approved for epilepsy. Clonidine, also known as Catapress, was approved and studied for the treatment of hypertension. However, all three drugs are widely used in the treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder - although the FDA has approved none of them for this use. All three are potentially heavily sedating.

In America doctors have the equivalent power afforded gun owners by the "right to bear arms" second amendment to the Constitution...

via www.psychologytoday.com

Cathie's notes: Here's another great post on the Rebecca Riley murder case by Dr. Lawrence Diller at his blog, The Last Normal Child. I checked out some of his other posts, and decided to add a link to his blog in my blogroll typelist in the sidebar.

If you are interested in these issues, I would also recommend the News page for the Alliance for Human Research Protection (AHRP). I got the heads up on these articles via their email list, which you can sign up for there. They have been especially informative about collusion and conflict of interest between Big Pharma, politicians, medical professionals and universities and the FDA.