Use of psychotropic medication for youth in foster care

Use of psychotropic medication for youth in foster care

In summary the article gives us insights on the subject of the use of medication for treating behavioral and mental health tribulations in foster care children. The article further, talks about how we should use medications as a help for the relief of child and not offered as an alternative to deal with children's behavior and issues without considering or attempting non-medication options first. The article mentions the study that depicts a high psychotropic medication use amongst youth which doubled up over the decades and also further mentions foster children to be more likely on multiple medications "ranging from 13-52% than those in the general youth population 4%". Psychotropic drugs that were prescribed include those used to treat ADHD, anxiety, depression and psychosis. There is a national approach to this issue and States are stepping up to take action on the problem of over medicated children since Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act was signed into law in 2008.